Philippians 2:12-13
"...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
Working Out (Part I)
As Christians we should "work out" daily. The focus of our efforts should be working out what God is working in us. Why in fearing and trembling? When we realize that it is God himself who is at work within us fear and trembling are appropriate responses. Fear of falling short of what God's plan is for us. Fear of hindering His work by refusing to cooperate with Him. We don't work FOR our salvation. We have been given salvation as a free gift and the scripture commands us to live it out. We are to bring to the outside what God has done on the inside.
Notice that the word says, "your own salvation". Salvation is a personal thing. We each must have our own. I can't be saved for you or you for me. Is salvation yours? Do you have your own salvation?
Sometimes we remain busy trying to work out other people's salvation to the neglect of our own. Hebrews 2:3 sends us this message, "how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation..." God didn't call us to work out other's salvation and by doing so we neglect our own. We can and should encourage, edify and bless eachother but, we cannot live out what God is working in another.
God works. He is alive and active! In John 5:17 Jesus declares, "My Father is always at his work to this very day..." God works IN us, from the inside out. Can you see where God is at work in your life? These verses may help. Romans 3:11 - 12 tell us that "There is none who seeks after God. There is none who does good, no, not one." Are you seeking God? Your seeking behavior is result of God's work in you. Your are working out what he is working in you. Do you desire to do good things? That's God's work in you. Are you willing to come to the Lord? Again, that's His work in you.
Both to will and to do - some people would have us think that we can will our way into heaven even though John 1:13 says we "were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." We couldn't will our natural birth - we can't will our spiritual birth. We come to Jesus because the Father has drawn us to Him. (John 6:44) He is the One who worked in us both to want to come to Christ and to actually come. Romans 9:16 says, "So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." Let us avoid the faith killing mistake that says we can do these things on our own.
Thought for Today:
Lord, thank you for working in me. Help me to see You at work and rejoice in knowing that You always finish what You start. Help me to realize that You have a plan and that plan includes me.
Help me to realize that apart from you I can do nothing and that believing I can is deceiving myself and robbing You of praise due for Your wonderful works! Thank You Lord for being a faithful and loving worker.