A Life Worked Out
"What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning...Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure."Philippians 2:12-18 (version: the msg) Dr. Charles Stanley said a few years ago, "There's no name that carries more quality, none more Heavenly, or has the power and the energy than the name of Jesus." He went on to say that those who claim Jesus as Savior must also claim Him as Lord of their lives; as the Boss. Because, "Jesus" he continued, "has the right to call every single play in our lives." Wow. I can't have Him as Savior of my soul and not the Lord in charge of my life.
In Philippians 2:12, Paul says, "...work out your salvation with fear and trembling." He wasn't talking about working their way to Heaven through works, but he was talking about living a life worthy of the calling after salvation. In other words, Jesus is Savior, make sure He's Lord. Work it out. What a powerful passage (the message Bible has a wonderful interpretation, part of which I included above, and I challenge you to read it.)
You know, I've been taking my training up a notch as you all know, trying new things, and this weekend I began using free weights again. And I show this pic because I have a new back, and I'm working it out for the first time in a couple years (yes, with fear and trembling even with a little 8-pound dumbbell.) But it requires of me a different lifestyle. The kind of weight that I lift or the modified way I get around these days sends a message to those around me. Something is different. There's a reason why I do the things I do.
The message? By grace we have Heaven, and our message to those around us on earth needs to be that we're looking forward to it. That we're working it out. Are we forgiving, loving, showing grace, helping, serving, being stewards? What did Paul say? "Be energetic in your life of salvation." Indeed the Christian life is a life worked out.
For Discussion: Isn't grace good? We can't budge it. It crashes down on us and puts our little faith to work with whatever we have. Who's working life out today?
