I hope the title will not detract many from reading this devotional, but those are exactly the words used by Paul in addressing the church he started in Philippi. I’m hoping that, with the help of Bible commentators, I can help to clarify Paul’s instructions to the church, for it is still very applicable to us today. Open your heart to the voice of God today as you try to understand His Word better.
DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-11-29
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL
BY: Ed Algreen
SCRIPTURE FROM: Philippians 2:12-13
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)
BIBLE TEXT: 12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.
APPLICATION: A ‘Work-Out’ today, almost constitutes negative connotations to many, for it means going to the gym, or hitting the streets, or your exercise equipment for a complete ‘work-out’ 3 or 4 times per week. Normally we hate it because those muscles that we don’t use by sitting in front of the television, they will burn, and hurt for, sometimes, days after our workout! Yet Paul chose to use those words as he gave instructions to new Christians – that they should work-out their salvation. It is extremely important to note that Paul in no way indicated that we are to work for our salvation, for salvation comes only through the wonderful grace of Jesus, who came, died, and rose again, so that we might be saved. But imagine having a gift and never unwrapping it or using it? That would not serve the intended purpose of someone giving it to you, nor your receiving it, nor having it sit on a shelf like it did in the stores. It’s like Paul wanted the Philippian church, and Christians today, to rejoice in having the gift of salvation by showing it off to the world, especially those who so badly need salvation. ‘Showing it off’ is not intended to implicate pride or boasting, but instead meaning that if you are called on to pray for your sick mother in hospital, you must never indicate that you can’t, or you have no idea why you are being called on. Instead, exercise your faith – ask for God to give you boldness and courage to walk into that hospital room and call on Him to give comfort and healing to your mother, just like He did for Lazarus, or the sick girl whose dad came pleading with Jesus to heal his daughter. You would be ‘working-out’ or using the faith that God blessed you with to call on Him at a time where only He could heal or restore encouragement and faith to your mother.
It is so easy for us to use the excuse that we just don’t have the faith or boldness to stand up and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord over our lives. So, in verse 13 Paul goes on to enlighten us as to how this is done. Real simple, it’s not through our strength, but the wonderful work of Jesus in our lives that empowers us to exercise the faith given to us at the time that we accepted Him as Lord. Particularly try to latch on to the very last words in our Scripture – Jesus is looking for us to glorify Him and lift up our praises to Him. He therefore gives us what we need to reflect our salvation, allow Him to work through us, and attribute any and all miracles to Him alone. Through this process, we will recognize the power of God and give Him praise and thanksgiving. The folk who are touched by God through exercising our faith, will also see evidence of God at work and desire to know Him intimately. To God be the glory for all He achieves among His people.
BLESSING(S) NOTED: Of my own strength, I can merely show up as a lump on a log, but with Christ working in and through me, He can accomplish much! May I always facilitate the work of Christ every day through all circumstances.
PRAYER: Lord, I plead with You to work-out Your perfect will in and through my life today. I also pray that as each reader and listener commits themselves to You completely today, You will also show Your power through them. This old world is so bombarded by Satan and his evil works through mankind, that they need a fresh perspective in seeing us bless them as we incorporate them while working out our salvation. It’s so hard to fathom the idea of You using us in Your miraculous work here below, Lord. But Your Word is clear that while You can do all things independent of us, yet You chose to work through Your saints to minister to our struggling world. There’s so much to be done Lord, please encourage every Christian to ‘work out their salvation’ while they have the wisdom and strength to allow You to accomplish Your work, especially through us, Your precious saints. AMEN!