September 29, 2024 WORK IT OUT
Philippians 2:12-13 “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Do we get it? It’s not just us living life; it’s not just about work, school, maintaining possessions, raising a family, sports, or whatever. The Creator God, the all-knowing, all powerful, all wise God, IS AT WORK IN US. God is not just sitting on His throne in heaven observing what’s going on on earth. With that being the case, we had best pay attention; we cannot afford to live life as we see fit. This is the big divide; this is the fork in the road for all believers; and this is counter-culture for sure. There is something big going on that is bigger than life as we know it. Salvation is SO much more than a ticket to heaven. God is not just a God who wants us to keep His commands just to satisfy Himself-He is not on an ego trip. Yes, God saved us that we might spend eternity with Him in heaven; but there is a lot more to the story. God is at work in us, transforming us into His image! He is not at work in us for our good pleasure, but FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. (That is why the ‘prosperity gospel’ that some preach is a false gospel.) We are not simply human beings trying to figure out life on this earth. The Divine, the Holy God is at this very moment working in us for His good pleasure. The amazing thing is that He works through our unique personalities but at the same time is transforming us into spiritual beings who are like Him. For example; one may be a type A personality while another is not a type A, but both have the same fruit of the Spirit. To clue us in on to what God is up to in us and to help us see what the transforming looks like, we have the scriptures. For example, when scriptures tell us to bless one another, or to be givers, or to think certain ways, or to forgive others, to to encourage one another, and etc., that is what we are being transformed into. So, God is not out just to prove He is the boss; He is out to transform us into His own image; being like Him is absolutely the best thing that could ever happen to us. Knowing that the transformation does not take place overnight, BUT that it is an active, on-going process-that’s where we come in. First, we must know that He is working in us for His good pleasure; then we must be about working with Him in the process. For example, if we are sensing that we need to be more patient, then start being patient! The good news is that God has even given us the Holy Spirt who enables us, and guides us in the process of transformation. When God says to work out our salvation with ‘fear and trembling,’ that is a plain indication of just how important it is for us to work out this so great salvation. The idea of ‘fear and trembling’ is not a fear of God, but it is a calling for us to be sober minded and for us to be alert to walking in the ways of the Lord-not to take lightly what God has spoken.
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Blessings, Buddy
Philippians 2:12-13 “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Do we get it? It’s not just us living life; it’s not just about work, school, maintaining possessions, raising a family, sports, or whatever. The Creator God, the all-knowing, all powerful, all wise God, IS AT WORK IN US. God is not just sitting on His throne in heaven observing what’s going on on earth. With that being the case, we had best pay attention; we cannot afford to live life as we see fit. This is the big divide; this is the fork in the road for all believers; and this is counter-culture for sure. There is something big going on that is bigger than life as we know it. Salvation is SO much more than a ticket to heaven. God is not just a God who wants us to keep His commands just to satisfy Himself-He is not on an ego trip. Yes, God saved us that we might spend eternity with Him in heaven; but there is a lot more to the story. God is at work in us, transforming us into His image! He is not at work in us for our good pleasure, but FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. (That is why the ‘prosperity gospel’ that some preach is a false gospel.) We are not simply human beings trying to figure out life on this earth. The Divine, the Holy God is at this very moment working in us for His good pleasure. The amazing thing is that He works through our unique personalities but at the same time is transforming us into spiritual beings who are like Him. For example; one may be a type A personality while another is not a type A, but both have the same fruit of the Spirit. To clue us in on to what God is up to in us and to help us see what the transforming looks like, we have the scriptures. For example, when scriptures tell us to bless one another, or to be givers, or to think certain ways, or to forgive others, to to encourage one another, and etc., that is what we are being transformed into. So, God is not out just to prove He is the boss; He is out to transform us into His own image; being like Him is absolutely the best thing that could ever happen to us. Knowing that the transformation does not take place overnight, BUT that it is an active, on-going process-that’s where we come in. First, we must know that He is working in us for His good pleasure; then we must be about working with Him in the process. For example, if we are sensing that we need to be more patient, then start being patient! The good news is that God has even given us the Holy Spirt who enables us, and guides us in the process of transformation. When God says to work out our salvation with ‘fear and trembling,’ that is a plain indication of just how important it is for us to work out this so great salvation. The idea of ‘fear and trembling’ is not a fear of God, but it is a calling for us to be sober minded and for us to be alert to walking in the ways of the Lord-not to take lightly what God has spoken.
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Blessings, Buddy
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