Philippians - Work it! (Lesson 4 - Post 1)

Read Philippians 2: 12 - 18.

Paul has just finished writing that beautiful descriptor of Jesus in 2: 6 - 11.  We saw who Jesus was, where He had come from, how He had behaved and what had been the result.  Paul then turns his attention to his readers ... to believers.  Considering the person of Jesus ... just what difference does that make in our everyday lives? 

So we work it out!  Our salvation is not a gift that we take for granted.  It is a gift - indeed - we can't work for it or earn it.  God does not "owe" us anything because we are so terrific!  Jesus Christ is Lord ... to the glory of God the Father ... and our acceptance of that truth, the confession of those words, the life submitted to that reality ... secures us in the family of God.  So why does Paul tell us to "work out our salvation"? 

I am helped by the explanation in the Renovare' Spiritual Formation Bible: 

Our relationship with God, our "salvation," is a cooperative venture.  God works salvation in, and we work salvation out.  God initiates transformation by stimulating our desire to follow him, inspiring acts expressing that desire, providing strength to persevere, and so on.  We, in turn, respond by deciding to follow, acting on God's inspiration, and choosing to persevere.

What God has worked in us ... so make it visible. 

Our English translations of the Bible use the word, "work", in both verses 12 and 13.  But in the Greek language these are two entirely different words.  The "work" in verse 12 (katergazomai) means to "to do that from which something results."  Kenneth Wuest defines it:  "to carry out to the goal, to carry to its ultimate conclusion."  However, the word in verse 13 (energeo) is different.  This word means "to energize, to provide the necessary power."   Two different words - two different concepts.  Paul says to you and I ... let your life show what God has done in you.  It won't be easy.  It will take work ... hard work ... work out your salvation.  He goes on to address the how ... God will give you the power and the energy and the will to do just that. 

God empowers us to will and to act according to his good purpose.  That will is our 'want tos' - our desires - our choices.  The act is our behaviors - our doings.  God empowers all of it to fall under his good purpose for our lives. 

So ... consider for yourself today ... am I struggling with the desire to work God's life out?  Would I rather just sit back and do no work along those lines at all?  It's seems so much easier to live according to my flesh and worldly nature.  After all, that's what my culture encourages me to do.  It's really hard to consider the other person instead of just myself and my interests.  It's really hard to forgive offenses. 

Or ... are you struggling more with the willingness to submit yourself to the Lordship of Jesus and the control of God?  Do you basically not really believe that God will empower you to do those things?  He either can't or He won't - He's not all that powerful or I'm just not that important to Him?  And, my friend, both those options border on blasphemy! 

God can ... and will ... work in you so that you can desire and actually be who He has called you to be.  Trust Him.  Submit to Him.  Talk to Him about it right now ...