Today’s Devotion is based on Joy in the Journey – Week 5 – Hard Work (WATCH HERE)
Hold Fast, Hold Out
Philippians 2:16 “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.”
What do you hold onto when life feels uncertain or chaotic? What anchors you when your world seems to be shifting beneath your feet?
Paul urges the Philippians to “hold firmly to the word of life.” In a culture where ideas, values, and opinions constantly change, God’s Word remains steady and sure. It’s not just another opinion or motivational quote. It’s life! Eternal, soul-renewing, truth-filled life.
The phrase “word of life” refers to all of God’s Word. It’s the Word of God that brings eternal life through the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s the Word that reveals to us the one true God, ending our search and giving us focus in life. It is the Word that reveal God’s will and character so we walk in his truth and experience all the fullness of the blessings he gives.
To “hold firmly” to it means to grip it with both hands and refuse to let go, even when it’s unpopular, inconvenient, or costly. It’s the same kind of grip a climber has when clutching a rope while scaling a mountain. Life literally depends on it.
But there’s another dimension here. The Greek phrase used for “hold firmly” can also be translated as “hold out.” So Paul may also be saying: Hold it for yourself, and hold it out for others.
This dual calling is at the heart of the Christian mission. You cling to the truth for strength and stability, but you don’t keep it to yourself. You share it with the world around you, People all around us are looking for meaning, purpose and direction in life. They are looking to get the most out of life and find some sort of fulfillment in life. God has given us the word of life so that through your words, your actions, and your witness we can bring this word of life to searching souls all around us!.
Imagine a sailor in open water, caught in a thick fog. The winds shift, the waves rise, and visibility disappears. But in his hand is a compass, and that compass gives him direction no matter how chaotic the sea becomes.
God’s Word is our compass in a cultural storm. It points true north when everything else is blurry. But like a compass, it only helps if we consult it and trust it.
But when we do it gives certainty of our direction, confidence we will reach our destination and assurance that we will navigate safely through life’s storms.
So hold on to and hold out the word of life. Take it in for yourself and freely share it with others!
Maybe one more thought…how exciting it is when the word of life you share changes the eternal and temporal destiny for people.
Paul longed to know that his efforts with the Philippians were not wasted. He wants their lives to bear lasting fruit. When believers anchor themselves in God’s Word of life and extend that Word to others, they don’t just run the race, they finish well and bring as many others along with them as possible!
Apply: Commit to the Word: How are you currently engaging with Scripture? If you don’t already have a regular plan, begin with something simple—perhaps one chapter a day in the Gospel of John or Psalms. Let God’s Word become the daily bread your soul craves. Maybe try memorizing a verse from that chapter and asking God for an opportunity to share it with someone else!
Prayer: Lord, help me to hold tightly to Your Word. Let it be my anchor, my guide, and my joy. And don’t let me keep it to myself. Give me courage and love to hold it out to those who need hope. May Your Word live in me and shine through me, so that my life would not be lived in vain but for Your glory. Amen.