Work Hard

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 2:12c-13 NLT

That statement - Work hard to show the results of your salvation - is NOT about having to do works to earn our salvation. Our hard work is walking in obedience. Yes, God gives us the desire and power to be able to do what pleases Him, but we still have to work hard to bring our bodies into submission to His will and ways and not our own will and ways.

Paul continues: Do everything without complaining and arguing, 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.  We are not the light, but rather we live our lives so that we can be the reflection of the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. As the world becomes darker in its sin and greed, God's light will shine brighter. Let us work hard to make sure there is nothing in our lives that will get in the way of reflecting Christ to those around us.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for the desire and power to do what pleases You. Give us Your strength so that we can walk pure before You, doing all without complaining and arguing. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen