Wednesday, October 12, 2022
For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load. Galatians 6:3-5
Are You Ready?
God has good work for us to do as His children but first we have some work to do to be ready. Unless we are growing in our relationship with God, we are not ready to do the work He has for us. Godliness is striving to be more like God, not just in words and deeds, but in our hearts in relationship with Him. It is the evidence of God in our lives every day and in every way – such as extending grace to those around us and bearing each other’s burdens. It is through God in us that we can do these things.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling: For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13
When we work out our salvation, God is at work in us to do His work for His good pleasure. When we have our heart and relationship right with Him, we are primed and ready to do His work. Working out our salvation with fear and trembling doesn’t mean to do the right thing because God is going to get us if we don’t. It is not about being afraid of God’s wrath. It is about having awe and reverence for Him and respecting Him as sovereign. It is our responsibility as His children to work this out, meaning to grow in a relationship with Him. It doesn’t mean figure it out because He figured it out for us. He did all the work of salvation for us, we only had to receive the gift. Then we do the work of sanctification as we grow into godliness so we can do His work for His good pleasure.
Sanctification is a process in which God transforms us after salvation, making us ready for a holy purpose. Sanctification means a change of heart, a desire to love God and other people. It requires our work on our part. Salvation is a gift, but growth is our job. Once we become Christians, we can stagnate where we are, or we can grow. We also stagnate if we stop somewhere along the way and do not grow anymore past that point. We can get caught up in the growth or lack thereof of others and neglect our own growth. Sanctification is the process of becoming a grace filled person, from a grace filled God, to be a part of a grace filled church.
Sanctification is a big part of the equation for us to become the person God made us to be, to do the work He planned for us to do. It is the foundation for becoming grace filled and ready to extend grace and bear the burdens of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be in tune with our own relationship with God so we will be ready to go when He calls us.
