Verse of the Day 1/2

Verse of the Day 1/2

Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.    English Standard Version (ESV)

As we head into the new year, many resolutions will have been made, many goals will have been set but today's verses set before us a challenge to "work out" our salvation, put it into practice, make it our life, not just a "segment" or "aspect" of it.  The verses speak of God's work in us for His good pleasure. 

This work in you is His grace.  Grace which has brought you through the struggles, trials and yes, the triumphs of the past year.  His grace working in you will do the same for the coming year.  It is what John Piper has often and written about as "future grace".  We can count on it by faith.

Piper writes, "This grace is past and it is future. It is ever cascading over the infinitesimal waterfall of the present from the inexhaustible river of grace coming to us from the future into the ever-increasing reservoir of grace in the past.... In the next five minutes, you will receive sustaining grace flowing to you from the future, and you will accumulate another five minutes' worth of grace in the reservoir of the past. The proper response to grace you experienced in the past is gratitude, and the proper response to grace promised to you in the future is faith. We are thankful for the past grace of the last year, and we are confident in future grace for the new year. "

Read the passage from The Message below, may we work out our salvation this year, committing to "redouble your effort", being "energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God."

Upon His grace I'll daily ponder, and sing anew His praise
With all adoring wonder, His blessings I retrace
It seems as if eternal days, are far too short to sing His praise.  (From: "In Tenderness" - Citizens,Saints)

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Philippians 2:12-13The Message (MSG)

Rejoicing Together

^12-13 What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.