THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL
Opening Prayer
Lord, thank You for working in me what is pleasing to You.
Read PHILIPPIANS 2:12–18
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Lord Jesus, I thank You for my church and that You gave Yourself up for her.
Paul’s exhortation “to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” is sometimes taken to mean that we must work out our personal salvation, albeit with God’s help (12,13). This is unlikely. The “your” is plural, so the focus is on the Philippians’ corporate “salvation”: Paul has just urged them to focus on others. What Paul means is that the Philippians make their salvation palpable and fruitful in the present by living together, as a church, a life worthy of the Gospel.
Paul compares Christians to shining stars in a crooked, depraved world (15). The church’s vocation as a light-bearer may reflect Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:14–16. The church has a strategic role in the world: proclaim God’s good news of reconciliation in Christ and demonstrate what the new life with God looks like. While the church must be in touch with the world, it should not follow it. Instead, it should be a life-saving beacon to the world.
We have read that Paul imitates Christ by presenting himself as a servant and in putting the interests of the Philippians before his own. Here, in verse 17, he demonstrates another aspect of imitating Christ. Just as Christ had poured himself out for all of humanity (7), so Paul is prepared to do the same for believers (17). In imitation of Christ’s emptying himself, Paul states his willingness to pour out his life to complete the Philippians’ sacrificial service to God. Paul rejoices: “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me” (17,18).
Apply
Consider how you can “pour out” yourself to improve the corporate life of the church and how, as a church, you can shine brighter in your environment.
Closing prayer
Lord, intensify the spiritual light within me so that I can shine brighter in such a wicked world that I inhabit.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.