<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3i83hG_0pFZvQq700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3i83hG_0pFZvQq700" width="1919" height="1080" > A woman shared that she had worked late for a week straight, and on the eighth day, she stopped to purchase some comfort food. After all the late nights, she thought, “I deserve this.” As she took her place in line at the checkout, a large man ahead of her turned and said, “You look tired; please let me purchase your items.” <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Being a little leery of the strange man, whom she described as a cross between Mr. T and Vic Tayback, she politely thanked him and said, “I’ve got this.” The man smiled, tossed down a couple of dollars, and said to the clerk, “Use this to buy this lady’s goods.” Then he said, “Lady, get some rest and enjoy your comfort food.” This man was lighting his world. Was he a Christian? He emphatically demonstrated characteristics of Christlikeness. Paul tells the Christians at Philippi that if certain traits characterize their lives, they would “shine like lights” in their generation. These same characteristics will benefit us today if we put them into practice. In Philippians 2:12-16, Paul says that we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, do all things without grumbling or disputing, and hold fast to the Word of Life. If we do these things, we too will “shine like lights” in our generation, neighborhood and nation. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> First, we must work out our salvation. You might be thinking, “But we can never work for salvation.” Salvation is the gift of God by grace through faith. You are correct; we cannot work for salvation; it is God’s gift. The idea of working here is like a bodybuilder working with weights. The bodybuilder was born with muscles, but she or he had to work hard to build those muscles and make them robust and defined. God gives us salvation at our re-birth, but we must choose to exercise our faith to make it more robust and defined. Not to become religious but rather to become relational enjoying a deep, purposeful relationship with Jesus. Paul also said we should do this “working out” with fear and trembling. When we look at the original Greek phrase, we understand that Paul describes the anxiety of one who distrusts their ability to meet all requirements completely but rigorously does their utmost to fulfill their duty. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Second, we must live without grumbling or disputing. Who likes to be around people who are always grumbling or disputing? I would venture no one. So, even if we know the good news, no one will give us the time of day if we are known for grumbling or disputing. Finally, Paul reminds us that we must hold fast to the Word. “Holding fast” means that we should apply and give heed unto. The Greek translation for “word” is “‘logos.” So, what Paul is saying is to give heed unto God’s Word —Scripture. We are positioned to light our world when we distrust our ability to meet all God’s requirements completely and instead rigorously exercise our salvation for it to become robust and defined, live without grumbling or disputing, and give heed to Scripture. Put these characteristics into practice and go light your world. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><nbtemplate data-content="eyJhcGlLZXkiOiAiZDgxM2Q5Yzg3NTI3N2IzNWU0YzRmZDM0NTAyMjJkNmQiLCAiZGVzY3JpcHRpb24iOiAiU3Vic2NyaWJlIHRvIFRoZSBQZXJxdWltYW5zIFdlZWtseSIsICJldmVudCI6ICJtcF9zdWJzY3JpcHRpb25fYnV0dG9uX2NsaWNrX2V2ZW50IiwgInVybCI6ICJodHRwczovL2FwZzAxLm5ld3p3YXJlLmNvbS9zczcwdjIvZW5jL2NvbW1vbi90ZW1wbGF0ZS5qc3A_aW5pdD1zdGFydCZpbml0RWRpdGlvbj1QV1omcmV0dXJuPWh0dHBzJTI1M0ElMjUyRiUyNTJGd3d3LmRhaWx5YWR2YW5jZS5jb20lMjUyRnBlcnF1aW1hbnMlMjUyRiIsICJtZWRpYUlkIjogMTU5MzI0NiwgInRpdGxlIjogIkhhcnRtYW4gY29sdW1uOiBQYXVsJ3MgdHJhaXRzIGZvciAnc2hpbmluZyBsaWtlIGxpZ2h0cycgYWxzbyB3b3JrIHRvZGF5In0=" data-id="MediaPlatformAmplitudeButton"></nbtemplate></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

A woman shared that she had worked late for a week straight, and on the eighth day, she stopped to purchase some comfort food. After all the late nights, she thought, “I deserve this.”
                As she took her place in line at the checkout, a large man ahead of her turned and said, “You look tired; please let me purchase your items.”
                Being a little leery of the strange man,...