Daily Lesson for Sunday 25th of January 2026

Having just presented Jesus as the perfect example of humility and obedience to God’s will, Paul now turns to the Philippians themselves. He affirms their obedience to the Lord after they received the gospel message (see Acts 16:13-15,32-33) and urges them to continue in that obedience.

Having presented the example of Christ’s life and the Cross as the way of salvation, Paul now focuses more directly on how this all works in practice.

Image © Lifeway Coll. Goodsalt.com

In these two verses, Paul does not present a different gospel from what he outlines in Romans and in his other epistles. We can be sure his message here agrees with the gospel of justification by faith, which he also preached in Philippi and other places. But it’s also important to consider all the Bible says on a given topic, especially on the topic of salvation, which can be so misunderstood.

Without question, salvation is God’s work, and we can take absolutely no credit for it ourselves. Even faith itself is a gift, encouraged through the work of the Holy Spirit. Our own works cannot save us; however, through the new birth, God re-creates us spiritually, enabling us to do good works. God’s Spirit works in us, empowering our will to choose the right, to resist temptation, and to make right choices.

Thus, we work out what God works in, “with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Does that mean we should be afraid of God’s judgment on our often feeble efforts to obey? Of course not. This phrase refers to sensing God’s presence (see Psalms 2:11) and our need to obey Him.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-05-we-work-out-what-god-works-in/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-05-we-work-out-what-god-works-in

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 24th of January 2026

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study: Philippians 2:12-30; Romans 3:23-24; Romans 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:6; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:13,21; Luke 7:2.

Memory Text:

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15, NKJV).

God told the Hebrews to obey because that obedience “is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’ ” (Deuteronomy 4:6, NKJV).

Centuries later Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12, NKJV). He has also said, “ ‘You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden’ ” (Matthew 5:14, NKJV). How can we be that light? Only through a close connection with Jesus, “the true light that gives light to everyone” (John 1:9, NIV). As Philippians 2:1-30 says, God “has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11, NKJV).

The light and power of heaven is available to all of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus. But too often either we expect God to do it all or our own ideas and plans get in the way. That’s why Paul’s words to the Philippians are so relevant today.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 31.

Sunday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-05-shining-as-lightsin-the-night/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-05-shining-as-lightsin-the-night