God Enables

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God enables us to live the holy life, and shine as a beacon of hope in the world. 


Scripture

Phil. 2:12   Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Observation

The connecting word, “therefore” brings together the beautiful hymn about the activity of Christ, and what that means for his activity in our own lives. Paul, is pastoral, reminding the Philippians of his great love for them, and for their pattern of discipleship, both in following him, and the Lord. 

The phrase “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” has, at times been confusing for followers of Christ who believe in justification by faith. This is not a works salvation, but the “work out” here has the idea of bringing things to completion. The language here is in the plural, something like, “y’all need to work together to live out this life of salvation.” The gift of salvation has to be worked out in the context of their lives, both within the Christian community and the Roman world (Fee 1995, 235; Flemming, NBBC). There has to be a way of living that bears testimony to what Christ has done in the lives of these believers, and that will be done with reverence and respect for God. Why? Because if the church fails to live out what God intends, they will be held accountable (Witherington 1994, 72; Flemming, NBBC).

God enables the followers of Christ to live in this way, so that they can cooperate “in God’s ongoing work of moral transformation within them, both individually and as a community” (Flemming, NBBC). The pathway placed before the Philippians church appears impossible from a human perspective, which is true, but it becomes possible when enabled by God. 

Application

The life of a believer is changed here and now, not just at some future time or date. However, it is an ongoing process that happens both individually and collectively. 

What we find from this letter is that there are actions and lifestyle changes that are supposed to occur. Flemming gives us the following three areas:

  1. They are to work together as a unified body and adopt a common mind-set (vv 1–4) 
  2. Stop bickering and live as God’s holy people in a dark world (vv 14-16)
  3. Fervently practice a lifestyle of cruciform love (vv 5-11)

As Paul lays this out before me I am challenged to think about what that looks like in my own life. The call to follow Christ and be Christlike in the world is supposed to result in radical transformation. As a community of believers, the church is to work together by showing love and adopting the mind-set of Jesus Christ. What would the world be like if all of those who claimed to be Christian lived like Jesus in the world? The call is to a life of holiness where we reflect Jesus in our motives and actions every day. 

Division in the church affects our witness. We are already living in a dark world and the only way that our light can shine brighter is by bringing our lights together. The enemy would want to divide us over little things. In that way our lights are split up and become tiny flickers at the margins. If God’s people unite together they become a beacon of hope in the center of a dark world. 

Then, we all need to ask ourselves what cruciform love looks like. How do I lay down my life for my brother or sister. Some of us look too far and assume the task is too great, when we ought to be looking right within our own homes. If we can’t love those within our own family, why do we think that we can love those outside who may even be more difficult to love? I need to lay down my life every day for my husband, my children, and my grandchildren. They need to see the heart of a servant so that it becomes a regular practice in my life that can then become broken bread and poured out wine to the world. This takes practice on a daily basis. 

But then we take heart, for all of this is not done on our own power, but we are enabled by the supernatural presence of God through the Holy Spirit. If we are not in Christ, then we may see all of this as a great struggle, but with Christ, it becomes possible. That is the miracle of the transformed life, living out the cruciform lifestyle. This life is light in the dark world. 

Dearly beloved, God enabled holy living is the expectation. This is possible because of Christ in us, before us, and through us. 

Prayer

Lord, I need your enabling today, and every day. Amen. 

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