Be Engaged!

Be Engaged!

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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

— Philippians 2:12 – 15

If I were to follow the advice to “let go and let God,” I’d be letting myself off the hook. A hands-off approach to my walk with Christ has never gotten me anywhere. God played the key role in my justification, and I have the responsibility to play the key role in my sanctification. Today’s verse calls me to be actively engaged in my own salvation as I “work it out with fear and trembling.” Why the fear and trembling? If I become spiritually lazy — not praying or reading the Bible much, not witnessing or trusting God when I should — I am making light of the blood that Jesus shed for my redemption. I want to have a healthy fear of offending God and a righteous respect of what my salvation cost the Lord Jesus.

You have a responsibility to actively pursue the person God designed you to be. The perfect “you” is that glorious saint you will become in heaven, and you’re called to step daily into that image. God has purchased you, and he is asking you today to be actively engaged in your own sanctification — you will have strength to accomplish this because it will be God who will be working in you to act according to his good purpose. Take a bold step toward your sanctification today, and let God take care of the transformation of your character.

Lord, I commit to obey you today, knowing I’m stepping into the person you have saved me to be.