“Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.”
Philippians 2:12-13 CSB

Choices have consequences. Good choices, good consequences. Bad choices, bad consequences. Choosing to work out, to exercise your body, has good consequences. Though at first they may seem painful or uncomfortable, over time the results show. A couple of years ago I decided to work out daily. After 3 weeks I had lost 10 pounds. It felt wonderful. My clothes fit better. I was in better shape physically and had more energy to keep up with my full throttle kids. After a while I became lax and it began to show. Not at first, but over time. I wanted the results without the discipline.

Paul encourages the church at Philippi in their obedience to work out their salvation. Working out their salvation seems contradictory to what Paul writes the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 2:8-9,

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Salvation does not come through our own works, but solely through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on Calvary. Paul is clear, crystal clear, in that God is working out His purposes in us – those He has saved by grace through faith. These works are consequences of our choice to submit to the Spirit’s drawing in our lives to God’s salvation. And it is God who works in us to desire His will and to do the good works He has prepared for us.

“Without faith,” the writer of Hebrews tells us, “it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). I love this for so many reasons. One, this calls for personal devotion to God and a sincere heart that seeks Him. Two, this is for each person that makes up the church. While my faith may be an encouragement to others, they cannot live in relationship to God based on my faith. Three, this shows that I must live out what I have been drawn to by God. For example, a vocational calling such as teaching, business administration, nursing or waitressing are all ways in which my life could bring glory to God. It could be through staying home and raising a family or through singleness where I am able to minister to others in similar life situations. Raising a child with special needs, foster parenting, or taking care of aging parents are all good works.

It is easy to sit and compare our lives. Mine looks like this and yours like that. And think we’ve somehow missed the boat or have the upper hand. Truth be told, God requires each of us to live out the measure of faith He has placed in us. Leaning not on our own understanding, but in all our ways knowing Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Questions for Reflection

• What consequences are you dealing with right now?
• What does your measure of faith look like in this season of life?
• How can you encourage the faith of others this week?
• Where have you been leaning on your own understanding that you need to surrender to Him?

Lord Jesus, admitting my dependence on you is difficult at times. Left to myself I would desire the easy things in life, the things that look like they are from you but require little of me. Help me to remember that to whom much is given much is required. Amen.