Work It Out
Work It Out
Robots can do some things humans can do but they cannot do anything without humans. In other words, robots are working out what the human creator has worked in through design and programming. Are you going to take risks for Christ or play it safe? Your risks bring God “good pleasure”. Trust Him.
We share some commonalities with robots in our relationship with God. We have been designed and wired for good works “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”. Ephesians 2: 8-10. Our good works are powered and backed by the Almighty power of God to accomplish them.
We however have a major difference with robots. We humans can think, act and have wills of our own. This is what Paul is telling his Philippian friends. Remember, Paul is calling them to unity of mind and purpose for the sake of Christ. The Philippians had conflicts without, within and among themselves. We are no different kind of believers in Christ. Listen to Paul:
“12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” Philippians 2:12-13.
1. The “therefore” in verse 12 is for the fact that Christ has subjected himself to the worst humiliation and died a shameful death on the cross to secure our redemption or salvation. Redemption is done and Christ is already exalted far above all and He is praying for us. As a result, we cannot fail. Activate God’s grace in you for good works. This is faith in action. Are you trusting God to do the impossible in and through you?
2. “Therefore … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. Woo! Work it out? Yes. Paul is not saying anything different from Jesus. “If anyone desires to come to after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”. (Matthew 16:24) Christ has died on the cross. He is only asking us to carry our own cross. It means taking bold and risky steps trusting only in God. No more “spineless” Christianity that lacks human efforts, tears and sacrifice.
3. It still goes back to having “the mind or attitude of Christ” of surrender and obedience to the will of the Father. Jesus abandoned and surrendered himself to the Father. Not my will but yours be done. Paul is not saying work to earn your salvation. Salvation is still a gift from God.
4. Oswald Chambers said, “To “work out [my] own salvation” (Philippians 2:12) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me. It also means that I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection . . .” (1 Corinthians 9:27). We have a responsibility to act. We are no robots and we must control and manage our passions for the sake of Christ. Let's "present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God". Rom 12:1.
5. What does it mean on everyday living? It means yielding to others for the sake of Christ. We are not door
mats but we can be landing pads for people to find the grace of God and receive the same healing we have received. Remember, it is His works, not your works.
6. Working it out daily means there is suffering too and we must follow Jesus at all cost which is really no cost in comparison to what He has already done. Many of us live the “inverted gospel” per Mark Batterson. We say, “I believe in you Jesus, now you Jesus follow me”. Instead of “I believe in Jesus and Jesus says now follow Me”. We get bent out of shape when Jesus does not do what we want or prayed. It is the unholy “prosperity gospel” in a nutshell.
7. Work it out … “In fear and trembling”. Now that is serious but with joy of reverence for God. “3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation”. Hebrews 2:3. The grace of God is not for nothing and we cannot take it for granted. We must work it out. It must be evident in us.
The greatest news is that “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure”. Aren’t you thankful for that? We are not on our own to work it out. But you must cry out and surrender ALL to God and trust Him 100%. It is all or nothing. We must be all in or out- no lukewarm; either cold or hot.
Who do you have to work it out with today? Remember, it is for the sake of Christ, “his good pleasure”. What habits, sin or even good things do you need to give up for Jesus? What risks are you going to take for Christ and do what He has laid in your heart? Do it now.
Father, thank you for working in me and enabling me to work it out. I surrender all my excuses and ask for forgiveness for making you seem incapable. Help me to surrender all to you for Christ sake. Amen.
Robots can do some things humans can do but they cannot do anything without humans. In other words, robots are working out what the human creator has worked in through design and programming. Are you going to take risks for Christ or play it safe? Your risks bring God “good pleasure”. Trust Him.
We share some commonalities with robots in our relationship with God. We have been designed and wired for good works “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”. Ephesians 2: 8-10. Our good works are powered and backed by the Almighty power of God to accomplish them.
We however have a major difference with robots. We humans can think, act and have wills of our own. This is what Paul is telling his Philippian friends. Remember, Paul is calling them to unity of mind and purpose for the sake of Christ. The Philippians had conflicts without, within and among themselves. We are no different kind of believers in Christ. Listen to Paul:
“12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” Philippians 2:12-13.
1. The “therefore” in verse 12 is for the fact that Christ has subjected himself to the worst humiliation and died a shameful death on the cross to secure our redemption or salvation. Redemption is done and Christ is already exalted far above all and He is praying for us. As a result, we cannot fail. Activate God’s grace in you for good works. This is faith in action. Are you trusting God to do the impossible in and through you?
2. “Therefore … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. Woo! Work it out? Yes. Paul is not saying anything different from Jesus. “If anyone desires to come to after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”. (Matthew 16:24) Christ has died on the cross. He is only asking us to carry our own cross. It means taking bold and risky steps trusting only in God. No more “spineless” Christianity that lacks human efforts, tears and sacrifice.
3. It still goes back to having “the mind or attitude of Christ” of surrender and obedience to the will of the Father. Jesus abandoned and surrendered himself to the Father. Not my will but yours be done. Paul is not saying work to earn your salvation. Salvation is still a gift from God.
4. Oswald Chambers said, “To “work out [my] own salvation” (Philippians 2:12) means that I am responsible for using what He has given me. It also means that I must exhibit in my own body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mysteriously or secretly, but openly and boldly. “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection . . .” (1 Corinthians 9:27). We have a responsibility to act. We are no robots and we must control and manage our passions for the sake of Christ. Let's "present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God". Rom 12:1.
5. What does it mean on everyday living? It means yielding to others for the sake of Christ. We are not door
mats but we can be landing pads for people to find the grace of God and receive the same healing we have received. Remember, it is His works, not your works.
6. Working it out daily means there is suffering too and we must follow Jesus at all cost which is really no cost in comparison to what He has already done. Many of us live the “inverted gospel” per Mark Batterson. We say, “I believe in you Jesus, now you Jesus follow me”. Instead of “I believe in Jesus and Jesus says now follow Me”. We get bent out of shape when Jesus does not do what we want or prayed. It is the unholy “prosperity gospel” in a nutshell.
7. Work it out … “In fear and trembling”. Now that is serious but with joy of reverence for God. “3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation”. Hebrews 2:3. The grace of God is not for nothing and we cannot take it for granted. We must work it out. It must be evident in us.
The greatest news is that “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure”. Aren’t you thankful for that? We are not on our own to work it out. But you must cry out and surrender ALL to God and trust Him 100%. It is all or nothing. We must be all in or out- no lukewarm; either cold or hot.
Who do you have to work it out with today? Remember, it is for the sake of Christ, “his good pleasure”. What habits, sin or even good things do you need to give up for Jesus? What risks are you going to take for Christ and do what He has laid in your heart? Do it now.
Father, thank you for working in me and enabling me to work it out. I surrender all my excuses and ask for forgiveness for making you seem incapable. Help me to surrender all to you for Christ sake. Amen.
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