I don’t know about you but working out is not one of my favorite activities. It takes time, my hair-do is altered, it hurts, it takes committed consistency, it hurts - oh, I said that already.
Working out doesn’t feel good but it’s necessary if you want to enjoy a life full of health and vitality. We all enjoy the rewards of working out yet the discipline that it requires separates the determined from those that talk a good game.
In Philippians 2:12, Paul admonished the church at Philippi to continue doing what he had preached to them even in his absence. You know, I can hang in there when I have a workout partner or participate in a group activity because there’s a certain level of accountability. However, when it’s just me, I have the tendency to stop a little sooner or disregard the whole notion of working out entirely. See Paul’s message below.
Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). Philippians 2:12 AMPC
Polished Power Thought
We all enjoy the rewards of working out yet the discipline that it requires separates the determined from those that talk a good game.
As I read this familiar scripture, ‘work out’ jumped out at me. Maybe because it’s something that I don’t like to do physically, but here we’re admonished that working out is also required of us spiritually. I have the same sentiments as it pertains to spiritually working out with the exception that it doesn’t sweat my hair-do out!
It takes committed discipline, it can hurt, I don’t always want to put in the time, yet I not only enjoy the results, but my life is dependent upon maintaining my relationship with the Lord.
In the scripture above, ‘work out’ is defined as cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete. To carry something out, you must understand the end goal. Our salvation was secured through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, yet we have to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth to make Him Lord over our lives.
Polished Power Thought
It’s about your race and how you run that affects not just you but others.
Many of us get so excited about receiving salvation but like baseball, once you hit the ball, you must run and tag all the bases if you want to score. If I continue with this analogy, salvation gets you to first base. Now, the real game begins. Looking at this further, Paul lets us know right off the bat that salvation is personal. It’s about your race and how you run that affects not just you but others.
Salvation is not just a free card into heaven but by professing the name of Christ, you take on His name and become His representative. After marriage, my name changed from Jones to Scott. I no longer identified by that name although that’s what I knew most of my life. I had to train myself to do things in some cases a different way because I was now taking on the ways of a Scott.
See, when we come into Christ, He tells us to forget those things that are behind us and press toward a new goal. He also lets us know that old things are passed away and new things are awaiting you on this salvation path.
This personal relationship that you’ve entered through salvation must be approached with ‘reverence’ meaning is not something that’s done casually. It’s not just a one-time occasion but a lifestyle. I also love how Paul told us not to trust ourselves. He later states that when he wanted to do right, he couldn’t do it because of the sinful nature that dwelt in his flesh. This occurs when your flesh is not trained to resist temptation. (Romans 7:17-21)
Later, Paul lets us know that our salvation is a direct reflection not on us but of God. Our actions either support or discredit the name on the back of the jersey that we’re wearing.
I’m reminded of something that my father would tell me when playing sports. “There are two types of players. Those that play the game and those that play at the game.”
I would have to say that I see the same thing spiritually and I’ve found myself on both sides, as well. Ouch! Thank God for His forgiveness, grace and mercy!
Polished Power Thought
Salvation is not just a free card into heaven but by professing the name of Christ, you take on His name and become His representative.
When you play the game, you’re in it to win it. Meaning you’re fully committed - regardless of your level of play or the conditions surrounding you. Those that ‘play at’ salvation are easily swayed by other opinions yet alone their feelings. They wear the jersey when it’s convenient for them. Anyone ‘playing the game’ must become skillful at what they do. They must know how to defeat their enemy and offensively attack; ultimately finding a way to win.
Paul is reminding us that salvation is not just a one-time activity but something that you must work out daily - your spirit, soul, and body. When you trust God more than yourself, He will make sure that you get to the places (run the bases) that you need to be according to His game plan for your life.
Finally, the very next verse lets you know that you don’t have to work out your salvation according to your own strength or muscle. If you’re coachable, He will “create in you the power and desire to both will and to work for His good pleasure.” That means that when I don’t want to walk in love (a form of working out), He helps me resist the temptation so that I can keep running the bases.
[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Philippians 2:13 AMPC
So, the next time someone sees you, will they be able to tell who’s team you play for? Will your spiritual conditioning or lack of reveal the workout regimen that you’ve been following?
It’s time to get a new workout routine for some and advance to the next level for others. Your life is dependent upon your workouts both naturally and spiritually. I’m reminded of 3 John 1:2, God desires that we prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers.
Now that you've had your pep talk, run your race (the bases) in such a way that others will readily know who you represent and be able to join in that workout!
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