Serve and Work for God's Pleasure

Our Love for God

Loving God by Trusting Christ

Devote All to Christ

Philippians 2:12-18 The Message

Rejoicing Together

12-13 What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
14-16 Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.
17-18 Even if I am executed here and now, I’ll rejoice in being an element in the offering of your faith that you make on Christ’s altar, a part of your rejoicing. But turnabout’s fair play—you must join me in my rejoicing. Whatever you do, don’t feel sorry for me.

For Reflection

As a child of God, you will endure the troubles of life because you are human.  You will experience times of sorrow, anger, resentment, frustration, loneliness, hatefulness, hopelessness, grief, happiness, and joy. God will share in your pleasure and pain. But as a child of God, you will also move through life with confidence in the promise of God that all things work for good.

You see the world differently. You perceive the beauty of your existence, the sustenance in the fellowship of good people. You will find satisfaction in working for justice.  With your actions, you will carry the light of the Holy Spirit and witness to the love of the living God.  You will find rest in the midst of chaos.
This transformation is your salvation.

Pray

Take time each day to pray about all things.so that you will rest in the loving hands of God.

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