Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Philippians 2:14-18.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing;  so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.  But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.  You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”  Philippians 2:14-18.

————

We remember the immediately preceding Scripture.

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:12-13.

Thus, applying these verses to today’s Scripture, we understand that an specific example of how we “work out” our salvation is that we do “all things without grumbling or disputing”.

But, even though through today’s Scripture we know what to do, and it makes sense to us, it is not enough, we need God to be at work within us “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” in order for us to do “all things without grumbling or disputing”.    

Thus, through God’s grace of working within us, we do “all things without grumbling or disputing”, and we prove ourselves “to be blameless and innocent”.

More generally, we remember other Scripture that it is God’s work that makes us blameless.

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:4.

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He (Christ) has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ”  Colossians 1:21-22.

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, … who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:4 and 8-9.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.