Philippians 2:12-18 Cheese and Whine

Philippians 2: 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 according to his good purpose.  14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.  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.

Paul rejoices over the things I whine about.  He knows the Phlippers are suffering greatly and he is suffering even more.... response?.... 'you guys should be glad and rejoice with me'  (v18)  ....  'I'm the cake and your suffering is like the sweet icing on it' (v17 loose paraphrase).   Either this guy does not know how to party, or  I don't know how to suffer in a godly way.... guess which one of us is wrong 🤔. #SoFarToGrow  Only someone convinced that God is in control can have peace and joy in the midst of madness.  This guy sure does.

Paul continues to commend the Philippians in the middle of their persecution and tells them to work out their salvation.   He doesn't tell them to work for it.... we can't.... the blood of Christ is the only acceptable payment.    He's telling them to work out the salvation God has already worked in them (v13).   "Keep it up... C'mon... stay the course".   In the middle of his own pain, he focuses on theirs, and cheers them on again.  This is why it was needful for Paul to stay rather than go to be with the Lord.  He was their coach, mentor and their biggest cheerleader. We all need that.

Want some cheese
to go with that WHINE?

At the end of verse 15 he tells them to shine bright in this dark world after first telling them how in v14.  "Do everything without complaining and arguing". No murmuring... or whining... or bickering.... that's how you shine in the dark. That keeps you 'blameless and harmless'. (Yike! am I the only one he is talking to? Sure feels like it)

Blameless?... I'm to be blamed if I whine?  Our complaints are ultimately an indictment against the good character of God.. (I know, that 'stung' me too).  Harmless? ..I'm harmful if I complain?... it hurts us and it's contagious, so it harms others. Sadly, we complain when we are not running for our lives or being persecuted... we do it in the midst of comfort.   #whatawretch

Of course we all go through hard seasons that seem to crush us.  Maybe that's why he pleaded for their unity.  We need to care for one another. We all need somebody to lean on (𝅘𝅥𝅮 did you read that or sing it?), someone to confide in, to get counsel from when we are overwhelmed, and someone to pray for us as Paul did for them.  Prayer should the primary place where we go to pour out our anxious hearts to the only One who can change things... or change our hearts, and keep us from complaining.

Paul didn't focus on his bad situation.  He praised God in the good, the bad and the ugly.  When we consider who we really are, what we really deserve from God annndddd what He has given us instead, the response should be humble gratitude and praise.  

Paul lets them know:  Wanna start shining?... then stop whining.... knock it off... cut..it..out!  Complaining is toxic to the soul.  Praise is empowering and encouraging.  Both are contagious.  And you cannot do one while doing the other.  You cannot do one while doing the other.  I know, I wrote it twice because I needed to hear it twice.  May we  have an attitude of praise and gratitude, and may it be contagious today.