The Word For Today

Paul writes: 'Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose' (Philippians 2:12-13 NIV). Salvation is a gift from God, so you can't work for it - but you can work on it. How do you do that? The same way you work out your muscles. If you want to get into good shape, you have to exercise! And the more you do it, the stronger you become. You have to take your faith to the gym and bench press it. It will involve some trembling - that's what muscles do when they are pushed to their limit. But that's how they grow stronger. And as you keep doing it, today's faith ceiling will become tomorrow's faith floor.

Paul writes: 'For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son' (Romans 8:29 NIV). The 'predestined' part is God's part, and the 'conformed' part is our part. A good example of this is the oft-repeated maxim: 'Pray like it depends on God, and work like it depends on you.' If you only do one or the other, it will result in half-baked spirituality. Our destiny is to be conformed to the image of Jesus. And God will use any circumstance, good or bad, to accomplish that objective.

Hence, Paul writes: 'Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation". Then you will shine...like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life' (Philippians 2:14-16 NIV).

In an extensive opinion survey from 1991 called The Day America Told the Truth, James Patterson and Peter Kim reported these findings. Only 13 per cent of those interviewed believed that all Ten Commandments are still binding and relevant today. Ninety-one per cent admitted that they lied regularly, both at home and at work. Most workers admitted to skiving off an average of seven hours a week. About half of the workforce admitted they called in sick even when they felt well. When they were asked what they would be willing to do for ten million dollars, 25 per cent said they would abandon their families, 23 per cent would be willing to work as a prostitute for a week, and 7 per cent would be willing to murder a stranger! (These findings are a few years old, but show the heart of people.)

And should you conclude that those surveyed are the unsaved and unchurched, Doug Sherman and William Hendricks surveyed Christians and found that they were almost as likely as unbelievers to do these things. They admitted to stealing in the workplace, falsifying their tax returns and selectively obeying the laws.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians: 'We are careful to be honourable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honourable' (2 Corinthians 8:21 NLT). Then he wrote to the Christians in Rome: 'Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you' (Romans 12:2 NLT). So, always do the honourable thing.

Before allowing his people to inhabit the Promised Land, God commanded all the males to be circumcised (see Joshua 5:2). Circumcision was first introduced by God to Abraham as 'a sign of the covenant between me and you' (Genesis 17:11 NKJV). The act of circumcision meant they were God's, set apart from the nations who didn't know God. During the wilderness wanderings, the Hebrews let this practice lapse. But before they began their new life in Canaan, God introduced it to them again as a condition for enjoying a covenant relationship with him.

What's the secret to surviving enemy territory? First, remember what God has done for you. Second, remember whose you are. The Hebrews did what God commanded - and God protected them and gave them spectacular victories: 'So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan...their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel' (Joshua 5:1 NKJV).

The Israelites' devotion to God brought protection from God. And it still works that way. 'Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you' (James 4:7-8 NKJV). This Scripture teaches that when you are surrendered to God, he gives you the power to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.

When Israel entered the Promised Land, there were thirty-one kings who had to be conquered. This meant they were living in enemy territory. God told Joshua to 'circumcise the sons of Israel' (Joshua 5:2 NKJV). When it was done, the Lord said, 'This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you' (Joshua 5:9 NKJV). The 'reproach of Egypt' was the humiliation of slavery they'd endured for four hundred years; now it was time to reclaim their birthright as God's chosen people. Circumcision, then, was a symbolic separation from the past and a declaration of a new identity: no longer a slave, but free.

What about your old temptations, lusts and shortcomings? He detached you from their power! It cannot be stated too often or too clearly - you are not the person you used to be! When Jesus died, you died. When Jesus was buried, you were buried. When Jesus rose from the dead, you rose with him. 'You put off...the old man' and 'put on the new' (Ephesians 4:22, 24 NKJV).

Satan is called 'the tempter' and 'the accuser'. When he comes against you in either role, tell him: 'I have been bought with a price, I belong to God' (see 1 Corinthians 6:20); 'I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind' (see 2 Timothy 1:7); 'I cannot be separated from the love of God' (see Romans 8:35); 'I can find grace and mercy in the time of need' (see Hebrews 4:16); and 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

A young man studied violin under a world-renowned violinist and master teacher. He worked hard for several years perfecting his talent. The day finally came when he was called upon to give his first major public recital in a large city where both he and his teacher lived. Following each selection, which he performed with great skill and passion, the performer seemed uneasy about how to handle all the applause he was receiving. Even though he knew that those in the audience were musically astute and not likely to give such applause to a less than superior performance, the young man acted almost as if he couldn't hear the appreciation that was being showered upon him. At the close of the last number he performed, the applause was thunderous and numerous 'bravos' were shouted. The talented young violinist had his eyes glued, however, on only one spot. Finally, when an elderly man in the first row of the balcony smiled and nodded to him in approval, the young man relaxed and beamed with both relief and joy. His teacher had praised his work! The applause of thousands meant nothing to him until he had first won the approval of his master.

That was Paul's aim too, and it should be yours. 'For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts' (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT).

So the word for today is this: in all things, seek to please God!

There's an African folk tale about a king and his friend. In every circumstance, the king's friend had a saying: 'This is good.' One day they were out hunting. The friend loaded the firearm for the king, and he fired it. But it exploded, blowing off the king's thumb. As was his habit, the friend said, 'This is good,' to which the king replied, 'This is not good,' and had his friend thrown in prison.

A year later, the king was out hunting without his friend when he was captured by cannibals. The king was taken back to their village and tied at the stake. He thought to himself, 'This is not good.' But just before lighting the fire, one of the cannibals noticed that the king's thumb was missing. According to tribal tradition, they could never eat anyone who wasn't whole, so they untied the king and let him go. When the king realised that his missing thumb spared his life, he immediately thought of his friend whom he'd sent to prison. He said to his friend, 'You were right. It is good that my thumb was blown off. I'm sorry for sending you to jail. This is not good.' To which his friend said, 'No, this is good.' The king still didn't understand. 'What do you mean, this is good? I sent my best friend to jail for a year!' The friend insisted, 'This is good. If I hadn't been in jail, I would have been out hunting with you, and my thumb's not missing!'

So the word for today is: God is good - all the time.