Last week, I mentioned how those three greatest of godly attributes are like muscle within us. We have to choose to use them in order for them to get strong and be able to help us live life to the full. This week, let’s continue with this idea as we talk about Salvation and what comes next. I think there remains much confusion about these most important of calls from God, and I want us to clear things up a bit. We will use this awesome verse from the Book of Philippians chapter 2 verse 12 to dig in. Listen:
“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,”
Php 2:12 NIV
You have always obeyed. So sometimes when we use the word “always” it does not mean in every single situation, every single time. When thinking about this New Life in Christ, we are talking more about a trend than moment by moment living. Think the stock market here. The overall trend of the market has always been up…but that doesn’t mean we have never experiences some real lows, right?! This is kind of like what our Christian life is like too. “Always” really means “more times than not.” It talks about Sanctification which is the maturing process we enter into once we have sincerely received the Salvation of Christ.
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17; 17- Ro 8:28
18- 1Co 13:13
19- Php 2:12
<>< Peace, Diane
