"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
Philippians 2:12-13
"as you have always obeyed" got me right off and running.....who was Paul talking to and how has it happened that they always obeyed and how does this apply to me in my life today?
The book of Philippians was written by Paul to Timothy, all the saints at Philippi to include the overseers and deacons.
If you are a Christian, you are a saint in Jesus Christ.
It is pointed out in Philippians 2:8:
"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
Philippians 2:8
By being obedient he was humbled....
I am a rule follower. I was raised in a way that obedience was not an option. I'd love to say the fear of God was placed in me really early in life but now that I know what that actually means....well it wasn't the fear of God....it was fear, no question, but not of God. I'm not a rebel...I was never a rebellious child....often called goody two shoes, naive, passive....the older I get the more I fight against those "labels" however, the closer I walk with Jesus the more those so called labels or perhaps more fitting, attributes, have actually become helpful in walking in obedience to Christ. I am reminded of this verse:
"Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed."
Matthew 27:13-14
Perhaps I am to say nothing. Maybe silence is required. Could it be that I need not be heard? I'm always blown away at the fact that Jesus was quiet when he had every right to defend himself against those wrongly accusing him. But who was he pleasing? His Father!! Am I not to do the same? Isn't Christ my perfect example?
I have often said I only have one story to tell. That is MY story. The one I've been provided wholely and personal to me. No one can tell my story better than I. Sure, someone can tell that my husband was tragically killed...but they can never tell the profound changes in me that occurred because of that tragedy. It's mine. It belongs to me. Same applies to working out my salvation. No one can do it for me.
But how do I do it?
Have you ever really admired someone? Loved how they dressed? Their hairstyle? Maybe you love how someone parents their children. Or how someone landscapes their yard. You love how someone decorates their house. Simple things like noticing a nail color or a purse or a car.....
Perhaps you've heard "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
We are called to be like Jesus! Imitators of Christ!
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."
Ephesians 5:1
I would be in a very different place if I imitated my earthly Father. But my heavenly father? He has every character trait for which I should strive.
Since I am a rule follower I feel quite comfortable with a rules check list. I asked a friend for just that in relation to a ministry I'm involved in. I want to do what the church wants me to do. Her reply was simple but surprising to me, "What does the Word of God say? If you're right with God's Word you'll be right with the church." In other words, whether I'm working in a ministry or working out my salvation, my "instructions" my "check list" IS the Word of God!
It's prudent to point out that we don't work out our salvation as if we have something to contribute to make it sure....I like how this commentary explains it:
"This is not to work their salvation in the sense of accomplishing it, but to work out their salvation - to see it evident in every area of their lives, to activate this salvation God freely gave them. There is a sense in which our salvation is complete, in the sense that Jesus has done a complete work FOR us. Still there is also a sense in which our salvation is incomplete, in that it is not yet a complete work IN us." (EWC)
Lastly, if you tend to operate out of fear like I do...the fear and trembling part of this passage might bother you a bit....I liked this explanation:
"Paul’s idea was not that we should live our Christian lives with a constant sense of fear and terror, but that we should live with a fear of failing to work out your own salvation."
The closer I walk with Christ I see this point. I am more and more aware of my choices....whether they align or are contrary to what God's Word says. And when I fail, which I do, I am grieved....and when I'm not grieved and think my words and actions are justified (which does happen) there is a working out until I can see it His way...not my own. My prayer of late has been that the "working out" would have me turning to Him with greater understanding, sooner, quicker.....
So I ask these questions this morning:
•What does it look like to be obedient? Am I? Always? If not, why not? What are my strongholds that prevent me from being obedient? Am I looking to Christ's example? Am I going to THE resource, God's Word, for instructions before going in my own strength?
•What does my daily working out of my salvation look like? How am I doing it right? How could I do better?
And now that I've been up for several hours...I understand why. God is gracious to fill the hours and I'm thankful.
Have a beautiful day. 🥰
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