The Virtuous Life – Day 201 – Philippians 2:12-13 – The Results Of Your Salvation – Growing As Disciples
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT)
Pleasing To You
That should be the result of my salvation. What should be the result of your salvation? Living a life that is pleasing to you should be the result of the salvation I have in you. If being saved by you hasn’t completely changed my thoughts and words and actions, I would think something is amiss, that something is lacking, or that something has gone wrong or been short circuited. That is a very good, right, and true thought. How have your thoughts and words and actions changed since you began your new life of salvation with me? The answer to that question could go at least a couple different ways. First, I would like to say that you have been and are continuing to change everything about me. You are molding and shaping my life. You are making me into the person into the person you designed me to be. You are helping me to live the life you have called me to live. All my thoughts and words and actions are different because I am coming to know and love and follow and serve you. In your presence I am becoming a new and completely different person. I will say something odd; you are making it easy for me to obey you. I know that sounds crazy. Not to me. You have been and are continuing to change the desires of my heart. How difficult is it to want to please the one I love? How hard is it to look for ways to please you when there is nothing I would rather do instead? The desire to humbly, and reverently, love, follow, and serve you, is the greatest and best gift that you could have given to me. For this gift, I couldn’t be more grateful and thankful. You are welcome. So, the second, and most obvious thing that I could say is, you have and are continuing to help me to take my focus off myself. I am living to come to know you. I am living to do your will. I am living to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. It is my desire to live in an intimate relationship with you. How is that for being the results of the salvation I have in you? That is very good. There can be now better result. Thank you, Heavenly Father.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the desire and the power to do what is pleasing to you. Help me to live a life of humbly and reverently doing what pleases you in all my thoughts and words and actions. I will love, follow, and serve you with all my heart. Amen
Key Question… What joy do you have in knowing you are thinking, speaking, and acting in ways that please the Lord?
Living It Out… Live a life of humbly and reverently doing what is pleasing to God in all your thoughts, words, and actions.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God has and will continue to give you both the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group the joy you have found in doing what is pleasing to God.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you live a humble and reverent life of doing what is pleasing to God.
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