AS LIGHT BEARERS - PART 2

SATURDAY 29 JANUARY 2022

In ministering to the Philippians, Paul purposefully instructed them with simplicity of perception and wit precision, presenting the gospel to them by energizing them with vitality and enthusiasm to produce the desired effects in regard to their salvation and its addressed alike to all of us in Christ.

Reference: Philippians 2:12 New King James Version (NKJV) "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

The Amplified Bible says, "So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]."

These are the things we are supposed to do as Christians. We must strive to produce "fruits" and perhaps obtain the "gifts" of the Spirit and actively pursue "spiritual maturity". That's part of the manifold ways to work out your salvation or cultivate it. Salvation positions us to be open to the blessings and virtues of the Kingdom of God. For instance, to put your salvation to full effect and remain productive, let's consider 2nd Peter 1:5-7. The New Living Translation reads, "In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone."

I mentioned about responding to God's Word or promises in part one of this topic, which is also according to the above verse. More so, we need to make every effort to supplement our faith with all of the above-mentioned traits. Why must we do or add them? It's because the more we add, cultivate and appropriate them, the more growth we experience and the more productive and useful we become in our salvation and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop their faith after salvation, will doubtlessly remain stagnant in their Christian growth or short-sighted in faith. For this reason, the Petrine epistle in 2 Peter 1:10 reads, "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble" (NKJV).

Beloved, this is a whole reorientation of interest in living the Christian life as light bearers, also bearing in mind that in the epistle of James, the servant of God, he wrote in a similar manner to inspire the saints to live consistently with the salvation they had received and what they had learnt in Christ. This is found in James 1:22 (NIV): "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Ephesians 5:8; Hebrews 12:1; Titus 2:10; 1 Timothy 4:16.

Exuberant Declaration: God is at work in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure. As a light bearer in this world, I have the righteousness, life and nature of Christ actively made manifest in me through my salvation. By studying and meditating on the Scriptures, I rightly position myself to act on the instructions inspired by the Spirit of God for my constant edification, unstoppable progress and spiritual growth. Therefore, I live my Christian life effectively and I remain productive, walking in excellence, victory, success, prosperity and dominion. Blessed be God!