Friday 23 October 2020
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
I am no fitness expert, but I know the basics that to get into good shape you need the right nutrients coming in, and the right amount of working out. In building muscle, it is usual to increase the amount of protein you eat. But if you increase the amount of protein and calories you eat but don’t work out there is a fair chance that the proteins may be converted into fat, and you become flabby and possibly are headed for the status of a couch potato.
One of the most important parts of your growth in life in the Spirit at any stage of the Christian walk, is obedience. In our Bible reading today Paul tells the believers to continue to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, he is not telling them to work for their salvation, but to work it out, co operating with the Holy Spirit to be transformed from the inside out. There seems to sometimes be a lack of understanding on our part in how this works, we expect God to pour into us, which he does so generously by His grace, we expect God to change us and fix everything, but God pours into us everything we need for salvation and life in the Spirit but we need to work it out, we need to make choices to obey Gods will and plan for us, to put into practice what He points out to us to change or do, by our actions and behaviours.
The bible says Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror." James 1 v 23.
Jesus said to the fisherman to leave their nets and follow Him, and join Him on the adventure of a lifetime, to not of obeyed and followed would have meant they missed God’s best. The same is true for us to day when we live in obedience, we live in Gods best, His purposes and plans are far above our own. God loves us, He is good and has our best interests at heart.
The good news. God also helps us to obey, He works in us to give all we need to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose. When we obey, Paul also tells us we will look great! He says we will shine like stars!
Now that is a good work out worth doing.
With much Love Mark & Jane
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Philippians 2 v 12-30
Spiritual strength is connected to faithful obedience to God's commands.