”…Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
There are many factors to being a success in life - these two top the list: want and work. You see, if you don’t want something, you won’t work for it, and if you don’t work for it, it is not something you really want - it is only a wish. The same is true of our relationship with God - we have to want it and work for it. This is why Paul tells us to, ‘work out’ your salvation. Of course, Paul didn’t say, ‘work for’ your salvation - it is not by works. But by working out God’s Word, it will start to work in us. To work it, we must:
ACCEPT GOD’S WORD…
”When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.” Jeremiah 15:16
Life has banged us up quite a bit, which is why some sort of recovery is needed, and also why we need God’s word. These are the basics for any recovery: admit there is a problem; it is wanted, and then accept help. One big problem for most people is realizing they have a problem to begin with. Jeremiah 17:9 proves this - ‘The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.’ But if we are being totally honest, we will admit to having at least one problem - sin. Sin is our biggest problem and why we need help. We cannot fix ourselves in this arena. God’s Word is the true authority on recovery, but we must accept it.
…AND THEN APPLY IT.
”Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
Once we accept God’s word (intake) as our help, we must then do what it says (outflow). The application is what makes it all work (a success). For example: if the Bible says we are to forgive, but you still hold on to your offenses, then it doesn’t really work - at least for you. But when we ‘do what it says’, God’s blessings and favor will be on our lives. Obedience also causes our faith to rise. As our faith rises and we receive God’s blessings for doing what His word says, we will experience the spiritual phenomenon of His ‘redemption and lift’.
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