Welcome to Day 2326 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Philippians-6 Working Out God's Inner Work – Daily Wisdom Putnam Church Message – 01/14/2023 Joy in Serving – Working Out God’s Inner Work – Philippians 2:12-18 Last week, we explored A Christlike Decent Into Greatness. “What’s the secret to a great life?” The Bible’s answer to that question isn’t long, convoluted, or complex. As indicated last week, we can sum it up in two words: selfless humility. This week, we continue our study of the letter to the church at Philippi. With the question, How can we allow God to work within us to become more like the perfect imager of Jesus Christ with selfless humility? Today's scripture passage is Philippians 2:12-18 on pages 1827 and 1828, in your Pew Bibles. 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.”[c] 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. Examples are wonderful things. People who have gone before us and lived admirable and exemplary lives are valuable because they can show us how we ought to live. We can study the lives of great women and men throughout history who have lived inspirational and motivational lives and have set the stage for us to do the same. We have many examples of good and godly people to imitate, but ultimately, we can look to the radical obedience exemplified in Christ’s selfless humility, as described in Philippians 2:6–11. He left the glories of heaven to take on inglorious humanity and live amid suffering, /sin, /and death. He veiled the brilliance of His divine attributes in the flesh and willingly accepted the limitations of human life. He ceded angelic adoration>and praise to become a victim of torture and, ultimately, of an excruciating death on a cross. And He carried out all of this in perfect obedience. Not one flaw. Not one inconsistency. Not one impatient word. Not one misstep or stray thought contrary to the Father’s will. Mark Twain once wrote, “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” What about an impossible example? I’m not a God-man. Neither are you. Only Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, could embody this kind of supernatural humility and miraculous obedience! How in the
