CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Isaiah 60:1-62:5
Philippians 1:27-2:18
Psalm 72:1-20
Proverbs 24:11-12
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1uyumL0
Commentary by Pastor Michael White:
“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil 2:12-13). Paul instructs us to “work out” our salvation with fear and trembling. Unfortunately, we often confuse the concept of “working out” with “working for.” Paul is not exhorting us to earn our own salvation. We know this because he goes on to tell us that it is God Himself who works in us…for His good pleasure! It pleases God to work in and through us. Jesus Christ earned salvation on our behalf because we could never earn it for ourselves. To “work out” our salvation simply means to understand and come to terms with it. When two people get in an argument, a friend might encourage them to “work it out:” to come to an agreement; an understanding. We are called to understand that our own salvation has nothing to do with us, but everything to do with Jesus Christ’s finished work on the Cross. When we understand that, God will go to work through us!
Prayer:
Father, help me to understand Your grace. Help me to come to terms with the fact that even though I don’t deserve salvation, You have given it to me as a free gift!