Message from Scripture: 8/16/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Phil. 2:16: “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.”

 

The message of the gospel was important to the apostle Paul. It was by hearing that message he learned how wrong he was about Jesus, and found the promise of eternal life for himself. It was by preaching the message of the gospel he offered that same promise to others. It would be for the truth of the gospel he would offer his life. Obviously, Paul had a love and appreciation for the gospel, as it truly is the word of life, the word that offers life.

 

Our challenge, then, is to do what Paul challenges us all to do, to hold fast to it, to its message, its truth, and it’s hope. The Greek term for hold fast carries the idea to hold up or on, meaning to hold back in the sense of to retain, not to lose, persevering in the acknowledgement and practice of the Christian doctrine. But it is a challenge. Paul knew that challenge in a real and personal way. Living the Christian life means we remain faithful to the call of the gospel no matter what. Compromise should not be an option.

 

Satan, however, calls us to compromise, or outright abandon the faith, the word of life. This is why we must stay focused on Scripture, and find ways to incorporate it into everyday living, that it stays alive within us, and helps accomplish God’s goal of life in us. We must be able to distinguish truth from error, walking in the light from walking in darkness. This is where our reason to glory comes, that, like Paul, we don’t run or toil in vain, but for what really matters. Satan just wants to destroy us; God wants to honor us in Him, and can do so if we stay true to the end.

 

Today, let’s go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, knowing what we find in the end, if we never give up. God bless.

 

Robert