Wednesday April 7, 2021

Today’s Reading: Philippians 2:12-18

For it is God who is working in you, [enabling you] both to will and to act for His good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

Reflection: God equips us to work for His good purposes, to work out the Salvation that He has already achieved for us through Jesus Christ. It is like opening and using a gift that has been prepared. It is assuming responsibility over what that has been freely given. This is the nature of God’s Salvation through Jesus. Spiritual athletes who have benefitted from intense spiritual conditioning and strength, transformation by the Holy Spirit, must use their gifts in order to run the race that is set before them. Otherwise, all that has been invested into their training is put to waste. Paul says that He labors for Christ. He has not left the wondrous Salvation of Christ to be lost amidst a long list of other priorities. He does not tuck his Salvation away in the private corners of his life. He chooses to implement this Salvation which has been given in order that others will see it evident within him.

So must we also work out our precious Salvation. How can we do this? Paul says that we must act for Christ’s good purposes, remain blameless and pure, do things gladly for Him in order to hold onto the Gospel Message. Salvation is a precious gift so lovely that it must be kept on display in our lives for all others to behold. In order for others to see the benefit of our Lord’s Salvation, we must live to work it out everyday. We must boast in God’s work joyfully and live in outward gladness for the work that has been done for us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have worked out every aspect of my Salvation from sin and death. You remind me everyday of Your great Faithfulness and Mercy. Before I was born, You provided all that I need through Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your Salvation, Lord. Thank You for doing the work that I could not do. Thank You for inviting me to display Your great work in ways that others can witness. Please help me to glorify You as I live out of thankfulness to Your Son. Please teach how to work out my Salvation. I love You Lord, In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN.

Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Philippians 2:12-30; Ezekiel 21-22; Isaiah 50