Work Out

Phil. 2:12-30

Paul urged the Philippians to work out their own salvation with  fear and trembling. Work? But what about grace? But then in the very next sentence, Paul reminded them that it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. So even though we are to work as hard as we can [desire, commitment, follow-through, thought], it is always in and through the power of God. How does that work anyway? It is like Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:10, But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. And again I say, how does this work anyway? 

As far as I know, it is not cut and dried. We have the Holy Spirit who is our guide and teacher. He must be the conduit for the grace of God to flood into our lives empowering us. We also must pray in the Spirit to know the will of God in any situation. That includes working out our own salvation. Coupled with that, we  have the Word where we find many clear cut commands that make God's will abundantly clear. But at the same time, there are the gray areas in the interpretation of those commands. I think it must come down to a matter of trust, trust in the Word and in the Spirit. The more we grow and absorb the Word, the more we know God is working in us and it is not merely us. But at the same time, God is always working in us to work out His purpose and for His good will. How complex!

Father,

Thank You for working in me Your good will and Your good pleasure. I want to be Your vessel to be used by You. Keep teaching me how my work and Your working in me are in sync. I always want to be in sync with You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Living is Christ, Dying is Gain

Phil. 1:21-30

Paul's words, For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain, exemplified the way that he lived. He kept a loose grip on this life and all that entailed whether it was good fortune or imprisonment, but at the same time he was deeply concerned about the spiritual well-being of others. He would have been thrilled to go to heaven and be with Jesus, but he knew that he needed to minister to others for their progress and joy in the faith. So he sent a word to them so that whether he would see them in the flesh or not, they would know his heart for them. Only  let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that ...he would hear of them that they were standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. He wanted them to endure because persecution was coming. And this persecution did not mean that they were on the wrong path but the exact opposite. Persecution, suffering, trials were and are a part of the Christian life. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for Him. Yikes! I wonder if any of those believers thought they had just signed on for salvation not for this intense suffering or perhaps even death. Or maybe they thought like the Christians in Acts who said they rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Regardless, the Christian life is not an easy path to take, but Jesus promises to be with us each step of the way. He has given us His indwelling Spirit to guide, strengthen, lead, and comfort. So our attitude should be like Paul's, For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Father,

Thank You for those few simple words. It is not complex, but yet it is so very difficult. I ask that You give me Your grace and strength so that I might be worthy in my manner of life standing firm in one spirit unified with other believers for the faith of the gospel. Take away fear in any form. Help me to see clearly my choices and the implications of those choices.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Envy and Rivalry

Phil. 1:12-20

Even though there was dissension among the ranks,[some preaching Christ from envy and rivalry while some were preaching Christ from good will and love], Paul could rest in Jesus. His sovereign God had thwarted those with impure motives who were seeking to give Paul unrest during his imprisonment. He could say with confidence, What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that he rejoiced. What an attitude! How prone we are to jump to the worse case scenario when things don't go right. How often do we think that proclaiming the gospel is all dependent on us! We think we must do it exactly right or it will come to nothing. We think that we must micro-manage every detail. Not so! Paul knew that God was in charge of every detail. He would work it out as He willed. In this sovereign God Paul rejoiced! And in this God we must rejoice as well!

Father,

Thank You that you are sovereign, that I can rest in You for every detail in my life.

In Jesus name,

amen

Fully Armored

Eph. 6:10-23

To fight a spiritual battle, we need spiritual protection, and we are assured that our battle is not with flesh and blood but with rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Although if you are the person enduring the battle, it may seem that it is flesh and blood that is in control. Paul commands us to be strong in the Lord. Soak ourselves in His word and in prayer. But then he goes a step beyond that and commands us to put on the whole armor of God. This is what God has given us so that we might be protected and contend for the faith. We have the belt of truth to gird up our clothing or anything that might be hanging off us. Truth is essential if we are to withstand evil or even to recognize evil. Then the breastplate of righteousness which is the righteousness of Christ that protects our hearts and our vital organs. It is only in His righteousness that we can stand at all. After this Paul speaks of the gospel of peace for our shoes. Our primary mission is concerned with spreading the gospel, a gospel that brings peace between God and man. In any and all circumstances, we are to be equipped with the shield of faith that has the power to extinguish the flaming darts of Satan. Amazing what power is within our faith! Of course, we must have the helmet of salvation which is essential for our entrance in to the battle. Without it, we would already be Satan's. He would have no need to battle with us. God has also given us the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. How important it is for us to be soaked in His word. And after we are fully dressed in the full armor of God, then we must pray at all times in the Spirit. Praying without the Spirit goes no higher than the room that we are in. In fact, it is a waste of our breath. God has given us all that we need. We have no reason to fear or feel ill-equipped. Praise the God who save and equips!

Father,

Thank You for this armor. Help me always to remember to use it. Bring it to my mind.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Profound Mystery

Eph. 5:32-33

This mystery is profound, and I am saying it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Why is the marriage relationship so difficult? Perhaps it is because it has such spiritual significance. It is the one relationship that should parallel Christ and the church. So I wonder if one relationship is bad will the other relationship be bad? If marriage in America is failing, will the church in America also be failing? If the marriage relationship is bad on a personal level, will the corresponding spiritual relationship be bad? I am afraid so. If sin [and that is a stress and strife filled marriage] is allowed to continue or even to flourish, how can we be close to Christ. Christ and sin do not peacefully coexist! Stern words! So If we value our relationship with Christ, then we had better value our relationship with our spouse. If we don't and persist in this divided thinking, we will be losers on both fronts!

Why is it  even when two people love each other, they fail to treat each other in a loving manner. I think it must come down to self. Our underlying selfishness is so strong [even though we think it is not], that we can not stop our love affair with ourselves long enough to love our spouse. Loving a spouse is long, hard work. We are constantly surrounded by their annoying idiosyncrasies and demands. At times it as if we have no time for self at all. There it is! Self! It is shameful when we state it so blatantly! How foolish we are to cut ourselves out of the joy of intimate love with our spouse and our Lord! Because one is vitally related to the other. Certainly, it is a profound mystery. 

Father,

I fall so short in this area. I confess. Forgive. Please, help me to love as You would have me love. Help me to be that wife You want me to be. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Anguish of Childbirth

Gal. 4:1-20

What an example Paul'a heart is! He had such deep concern for the souls of others. It wasn't enough that he brought the gospel to them; he wanted to see the fruit of the gospel in their lives. And this he was not seeing. He asked them how they could turn back to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world. How could they forego the saving knowledge of Christ and His great grace? It was mind boggling! Why would they want to become slaves once more observing the times and seasons of the year? But Paul emotions were greater than just having a dialogue with them. He called them his little children. He was their spiritual father, the father who had brought them new life in Christ. As a father he anguished for them like the anguish of childbirth until Christ was formed in them. His deep concern would only be assuaged when Christ was formed in their lives. How many people feel such anguish as this for the souls of those who are new converts? How many of us anguish in prayer or are willing to do what it takes until Christ is formed in their lives? 

Father,

Paul within me that deep concern for others spiritual growth. Help me to want others to be filled and satisfied as I am. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Promised One

Gal. 2:15-29

The promise was made to Abraham who predated the law. The law then was an intermediary working until the promised One would come. While the law was based on works, the Promised One, Jesus Christ brought faith. Why then the law? It was in place because of sin. Sin needed to be dealt with before Jesus came and dealt with sin once and for all when He took all the sin upon Himself and died on the cross. He became the perfect sacrifice thus making the sacrifices done under the law null and void. All people were imprisoned under sin until Jesus came and conquered sin and death. The law was our guardian until Christ came making it possible for us to be justified by faith. Once Christ came we no longer had a need for a guardian for now we are all sons of God through faith. If we have been baptized into Christ, we have put on Christ and we are all one in Christ. And if we are Christ's then we are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise. The promise has been fulfilled! 

Father,

Thank You for the promised One, for Jesus Christ who was the perfect sacrifice who could conquer sin and death and fulfill the promise making it possible for me to be Your son justified by faith in Jesus. What a blessing! Thank You so much.

In His name,

Amen

Grace Not Law

Gal. 2

Paul's point was that whether you are Jew or Gentile, it matters not. We are not saved by the law or by works of the law, but by Jesus Christ. We have done nothing to deserve it since it was a gift from God. We are justified by faith in Christ not by any works that we have done whether they are of the law or human invention. As Paul said, For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. What better argument than this! Grace would not be grace if it depended on the law or on works. Our salvation is based on faith in the Son of God. Who are we to nullify Christ's death? Such pride man has that he thinks his works can save him! How foolish!

Father,
Thank You for this great salvation, for gifting me with eternal life, with the faith to believe in Jesus, and with wisdom to understand Your great work in the hearts and lives of man. Thank You so much!
In Jesus name,
The One who provided my salvation,
Amen