Salvation is a personal experience, it is a process; someone leads you to the truth and you give your life to Christ and He becomes your Lord and saviour. However, after that, you have to maintain and sustain the relationship by working it out, improving communication,discovering and understanding the love of the Father.
It seems very easy to fellowship with others, mouth Christian lingo and do things just to please those around you or do it because that is how others do it. Over the years, I have found out that in walking with the Lord, you have to cultivate a personal relationship, understand how the Lord deals with you in all areas and refuse to compare yourself with others but willing to learn from everyone. You will have to go through your dying process yourself...
Phillipians 2:12 The Amplified
12 "Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, [i]with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ)".
The phase of working out your salvation with fear and trembling is broken down in this verse and I love it! May I point out somethings that speak to me here:
Work out: Cultivate, carryout to the goal, fully complete
This speaks to improving daily, determination, focus, avoiding distractions in any form, avoiding compromise, refusing to water down the truth you have come to believe and accept.
Fear & Trembling: self distrust, serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation,timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ!
This is my focus, how many of us feel comfortable about doing things that discredit the name of Christ just because we have "men of God" who do the same? How many of us are willing to give in to sexual pressure, cover up a pregnancy just to ensure we get married in church? How many times do we "cook" the books, give kick backs and follow the multitude to do wrong just because we have to "make it"? Do we get uncomfortable when we see a "brother, deacon or Pastor" beat up their wives just because the women do not listen? What are those things we would dare not touch years back but wink at them as "they wont stop me from getting to heaven" now...
Lying gets things done these days...but it is still on the list of reasons why people will go to hell, sycophancy gets you the title, slyness and hypocrisy gets you some favors...but the foundation of the Lord stands sure. For all of us who will make it to heaven, the fear (holy reverence and awe of God) must guide our everyday dealings and walk with God. Living each day as if it would be the last, a lie is a lie not "applying wisdom". If you are not going to marry the lady, do not lead her on, do not corner a man by getting pregnant for him, stop hanging out with thieves so you too can live comfortably.
When we get too bold and indulge in sin, we can not escape the judgement of God regardless of how many scriptures we can quote. The walk of faith requires fear and trembling. So do it afraid!
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