Corona Devo 1513

Who said it would be easy?

No one who has ever accomplished anything of value ever said that.  They worked hard to be where they are at.  

I see little neighborhood kids shooting hoops in their driveway with their mom and dad, and I know that those kids will be good at basketball...if they keep practicing.  They will play on a city rec. team, and then on a travel team, and then they will play for their school or college too: if they keep working hard.  The results will show, but no one said it will be easy.

~~~

I heard a great story about my niece, who wants to go to sewing camp this summer, but her parents challenged her to earn the money for it.  So, she worked hard one recent Saturday to make and sell lemonade on her street.  It was work.  It was hot outside.  It was five hours in her driveway at age twelve.  And it earned her $113 for camp.  The results showed, but no one said it would be easy.

~~~

We understand (and have seen) that good grades come with studying, team (sports) captains and office leadership positions come with much effort and strong leadership. 

We know that hard work produces results.  But who (ever) said it would be easy?

Why would we think that our faith would be any different?

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. (13)  

"Work hard" is not referencing that we must earn our salvation, but it is relating to our ongoing spiritual growth and development.  Salvation is a continual process in which we (as Believers) must be actively and even strenuously involved.  (Having faith and living faith takes work.  Who said it would be easy?

Strenuous.  Would we describe our faith-walk that way?

Are we trying to please God and working hard at doing so?  Are we disciplined in waking for time in His Word, and are we purposed in a daily routine to know Him and serve Him well?   That takes work, and no one said that it would be easy.

Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.    ~Philippians 2:12

~~~

And then we fall to sin or fall-back in some sinful way...and we become discouraged, or even ashamed at our lack-of-faith.  We might sit there for a while, but then God comforts us and puts us back on our feet to begin the race-for-Him again.

Yes, it is a strenuous journey, and (unfortunately), we're not always moving forward and working hard to show the results of our salvation.  

But for us, God is always working.

 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.    ~Philippians 2:13

Let the Lord give us the desire and the power to do what pleases him today.

Let the Lord give us BACK the desire and the power to do what pleases him today.

And...no one said it would be easy, but may we work hard to show the results of our salvation (knowing/loving/serving Him) today.  

And may we do it with the right attitude.  

Do everything without complaining and arguing, (15) so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (16) Hold firmly to the word of life... ~Philippians 2:14-16

~~~

Do everything without complaining and arguing (Philippians 2:14)?  Yep--No one said it would be easy.

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God today (Philippians 2:15).  No one said it would be easy.

Shine like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people today (Philippians 2:15).  No one said it would be easy.

Hold firmly to the word of life today  (Philippians 2:16).  No one said it would be easy.

~~~

We know that hard work produces results. Why would we think that our faith would be any different?

Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. (13) For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.  

(14) Do everything without complaining and arguing, (15) so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (16) Hold firmly to the word of life...   ~Philippians 2:12-16

No one said it would be easy.  But working hard to show the results of our salvation, and obeying God with deep reverence and fear will be worth it. 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com



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