Be Afraid part 3
It seems to me that there are basically two choices: 1. You can trust the Holy Spirit to "change" people from the inside out by revealing the change that took place on the cross to them, and in them, and through them. Or 2. You can try to control people and make them fit in a box through fear and intimidation. And, unfortunately, it seems as though most of the church world has opted for choice number two. I think I had it easy though. Because when I started my ministry my pastor told me, "You can't make people do ANYTHING. And that's ok, because it's not your job to make people do anything." All I ever try to do is listen to what my heavenly Father is telling me and say it in the best way that I can. In other words, I try to obey the New Commandment. I try to love others as Jesus loves me. I try to receive and release the gift I've been given. And I say "try" not because I'm doing it through my own works and labor. I say "try" because sometimes I mess up. Sometimes I say things I shouldn't. Sometimes I do things I shouldn't. Shocking, I know. But even when I "try" and "fail" I know that the only true failure is giving up. Disqualifying myself, or falling from grace (putting myself back up under the Law), would count as failing. Making mistakes simply means I can learn from my mistakes. I don't have to be afraid of my heavenly Father because He's not out to get me. On the cross... He got me. He lifts me up when I fall, and more often than not He KEEPS me from falling. So this idea of a scary God... I'll pass on that. This idea of controlling people by making them so afraid of an angry God--scaring them straight--is for the birds. If the Holy Spirit can't do what it has set out to do, then what chance do I have? Which brings me to my verse for today. Philippians 2:12, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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." Now I know this verse SEEMS to go against everything I've just said. But look at another verse that deals with "fear and trembling." Psalm 2:11, "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling." It's not about being afraid. It's about being in awe. It's about reverence. It's about something so GOOD that you can't hardly stand it. And look at the very next verse in Philippians, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). It's GOD working IN us that lets US work OUT what HE put in! It's being filled to overflowing, and then filling ourselves with what we've been filled with. It's apprehending what we've been apprehended of. It's receiving the gift we've been given. Laying hold of eternal life. We already have it. We simply have to LET the mind of Christ (that's already in us) BE in us. To me, "work out your own salvation" is almost more like, "figure out your own salvation." Get a handle on what you've got instead of always looking for love in all the wrong places. Don't be afraid of love. Don't be afraid to let God--or other people--love you... and don't be afraid to love them back. But love God (by loving people) with fear and trembling. Be NOT afraid. Let NOT your heart be trouble. But do everything you do with awe and reverence of God. Of love!