Senior Pastor’s Devotional
Day 48 Movement Control Order – “Strategic Psalm 91 Watch”

SCRIPTURES TO READ:- PHILIPPIANS 2:12-18.
LESSON TO BE LEARNT: A LIFE THAT BRINGS JOY AND DELIGHT TO GOD.  

Paul’s appeal to the Philippians is more than just an appeal to live in unity in a given situation. Here in this passage, Paul makes an appeal to the Philippians to live a life which will lead us to the ultimate salvation of God in which our Heavenly Father will be well please.

Paul’s desire was that the people will be “holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” (Phil. 2:16) What steps are we to take in order that we may affirm this salvation and to bring joy and delight to God?

1. STEP ONE;- “We must continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.”  Phil 2:12b.

Does this mean we are actually not sure whether we are saved or not upon receiving Christ? 

Does this mean we can lose our salvation along the way? 

Does this mean that apart from believing Jesus, we have to work FOR our salvation?

The answers to the above are as follow:-
When we accept Christ, we can be sure of our salvation. John 1:12 says, “To those who believe in His name, He gives them the right to become the children of God. There is no doubt about that. Example – the thief who was crucified with Jesus was indeed saved without question.

However, given the ‘long journey’ of life, some Christians may actually go to a state of backsliding and drift away from our faith. Hebrews 2:1 says, “Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” -Jesus also warned us through the Parable of the wise and foolish virgins, that we must be always ready for the coming of Christ. As such, it is wrong to have a mindset of “once saved always saved”, and live in carelessness. 

We cannot work FOR our salvation. Romans 5:1 says, “we are justified by faith in Christ”. However, we must work AT our salvation by living by His standards and continue to do His will and purposes. 

Good works without Jesus doesn’t lead us to salvation. 

For those who believe in Jesus – good works is the result or the fruits of our faith in Jesus.

Let us be a delight to our Heavenly Father!

Ps Lawrence.