Week 3 - Philippians 2:12 - 30

Shining stars - Just as stars illuminate a dark night, so Christians are to illuminate a dark culture. One of the things that makes my blood boil the most is to see public figures who have said they follow Christ then do something, publically, that denounces Him! If you're going to behave that way then don't claim to be a Christian! Paul writes about being the same no matter who's watching and to take our salvation seriously. See how he writes - "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." Notice, he said 'work out' not 'work for' your salvation. The work we do because of our faith is work God is doing through us for His purpose. And we take it seriously - with fear and trembling!

• What are you doing today because you've been saved by grace?

God can't work in a grumbling, complaining arguer. He needs us to be "blameless, pure, children of God without fault". We have to be in the world, but we don't want to be of the world. I understand that we have to know how to 'speak the language' of the world, but the danger lies in spending time and energy learning the lingo. Pretty soon we forgot who we're working for and how we are to respond.

I joined facebook recently, and I've got to say it can really suck up your time! Plus, the stuff written there seems, well, like fluff. No one wants to really speak their heart - out in open like that - or ask for prayer, or anything really relevant. I do like that it helps re-connect with those who have moved away, or are distant in some other way. But, if we aren't spending time studying the Bible or talking to Jesus, can we justify the time we spend with fluff?

Cultural relevance, in other words, must be tempered with the attitude of Christ. Remember Philippians 2:5-11? Jesus knew where true north was - He continually went back to His reference points - His Father, His mission, His purpose. These are our reference points too.

• What is your day filled with? Are you 'holding out the word of life' to someone else today? Who needs to hear that from you?