Renée again. There is lots of great stuff in this section, it’d be great to see what stood out to you. I’m just going to look at one sentence today.
Phil. 2:12b-13 “...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
Lord, if I’m honest, I don’t like the sounds of this. I want the Christian life to be easy, none of this fear and trembling stuff. I think it’s easy for me to fall into thinking (without even realizing it sometimes) if I follow You and do all the right things, everything should go well, everything should fall into place and life should be full of blessing. Yet life with You isn’t an equation like that, it’s an on-going relationship living in the reality of a fallen, messed up world. I can follow You, do everything “right” and things can still fall flat on their face. Help me follow You regardless, entrusting the outcomes to You. Lord, I want to follow You and live for You even when it isn’t easy, even if my rights get trampled on and things don’t go how I think they should.
That word “continue” gets me. That means this never ends. It’s an everyday thing. Working out my salvation each day, choosing to live for You each day and figuring out what it means to represent You and the Gospel each day can be difficult and even scary at times. It sure would have been scary for Paul and the Philippians. Often I know the right thing to do or can sense Your nudging to say something or do something, but I need Your courage to act, even through my fear and trembling. I remember the first time I preached in front of people, and how much fear and trembling accompanied me in those moments! Yet, I pushed through even while feeling the fear, trusting You were with me. Thanks for verse 13 which reminds me You are working in me to do the right thing and act in-line with You even when I’m full of fear. Help me remember this and do the right thing for You, even when I feel fear.
I think of particular times and situations where I need Your courage to act, to live out my salvation even with fear and trembling:
- when I can see someone who needs either a word of encouragement or a word of challenge from You, help me have the courage to speak up.
-help me to have the courage with those who are far from You, to be able to show them and tell them of Your great love.
-when my opinion goes against others opinion, help me know when to speak up and have courage to speak up.
-when I experience failure (fall on my face) help me have the courage to still live out my salvation and glorify You. To accept responsibility where I need to and trust Your grace to cover me and lift me up.
-when I’m tempted to take the easy-way-out, to blame someone else for my mistake or avoid the difficult conversation, help me live out Your gospel in that moment and do the right thing instead of the easy thing.
-when the spotlight is on me and I’d rather hide than shine for You give me courage
-preaching!
Where do you need courage to live for God and His ways, even when fear & trembling accompany you?
6 comments:
Not sure why, but the word "complacency" comes to my mind here. Perhaps "fear & trembling" are related to obedience and it requires progression too override complacency and the myth that we have attained.To know that we have the constant presence of the One who is working thru us to fulfillment is a true act of grace. How sad it would be if we were born as adults, what greatness we would have missed! To begin our spiriual process in infancy, as a means to the greatet of ends, is truly quite a Divine plan. The walk in obedience would dim the prospects of complacency, thus vulnerability which leads to weakness and temptation.Not sure if this makes sense,it's early, but you've made me think--now it's snowing and I must rise from my complacency, start a cold car and get some groceries! ( not yet in fear & trembling!)
I was not trying to be anonymous--still haven't achieved greatness in this media!
Above, Dawn says-----I have no pride, I'm trying again!!
GOT IT1
I always fear that I'll do or say the wrong thing and push someone away from God...or not do or say something I should have. But then God reminds me of His words to Moses in Exodus 4:11-12 "God said, "And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn't it I, God? So, get going. I'll be right there with you-with your mouth! I'll be right there to teach you what to say." (MSG)
And even when I fumble a pass from God, who am I to think that I'm that powerful that I could cosmically mess up His plans!?? Oh...I think my pride is showing :)
It's nice to be reminded of how small we are in is immensely vast creation and that no matter what, He works everything (fumbles and all) into His good plan.
Lord, I pray to live moment by moment with you on your terms. Please give me the courage to live only in the present.
Thanks Renee, I just love this constant call to "continue", Paul has issued it a few times (1:18; 1:25; 2:12) ... and then in chapter 3 Paul's reminder to "press on" (3:12; 3:14)... a great challenge and encouragement...
Rob
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