Thrust Statement: We are to work out this amazing salvation God has given us
with awe.
Scripture
Reading: Philippians
2:12-13
GOD’S
ACT OF REDEMPTION: THE CROSS OF CHRIST
As you reflect upon God’s salvation by grace through faith in His Son Jesus, do you stand in amazement of the Gospel of Christ? Are you conscious that the Gospel is about God’s love for lost humanity? Does God’s love take hold of you in Jesus? Do you rejoice at the radical message of free grace in and through His Son Jesus? Are you mindful that God’s love is greater than the sins of humanity? What does salvation mean to you? One cannot read the Word of God without a realization of God’s wrath. Is the wrath of God a reality to you? Are you aware of the fact that God’s wrath is not God’s essence, but rather that His love is His essence—God is love. God Himself has provided the decisive safeguard for the salvation of both men and women—the Cross of Jesus is the event.
John, in his Gospel, discloses that God’s revelation is a coming down to man in and through His Son Jesus (John 1:1-14). God enters space and time, that is to say, He enters the world of sinful history in the Incarnation. It is through Jesus that one receives the atoning forgiveness of sins. God has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. The revelation of God is seen in the Cross. It is on the Cross that Jesus tasted the full sense of remoteness from God—“My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). One cannot reconstruct the bridge that separates God from humanity; only God can bring about this reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). It is through the Cross of Jesus that God makes known His holiness and His love simultaneously. Do you stand in awe of the salvation that God has made available through the Cross? Are you conscious that God concretizes forgiveness in the Incarnation, which is a historical event? Forgiveness is found in an objective atonement (crucifixion), not subjective atonement (speaking). It is only in Christ that one sees the burden of guilt.
In the subjective versus objective sense of salvation, one discovers the cost to God—the giving of His “one and only Son” (John 3:16). There is a distinction between Christianity and the religions of the world. One can say that speaking alone is not enough for God; otherwise, God’s holiness and justice would be mocked. The cost to God to maintain His holiness and redemption for sinful humanity is found in the Cross of Calvary. It is only at the Cross that men and women see what separates humanity from God. In the Cross, one perceives that the limitless mercy of God transcends all human standards (Ephesians 2:4-7). What is the Gospel of God about? It is about reconciliation. In Paul’s sermon in Pisidian Antioch, he goes right to the heart of reconciliation:
Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39).
Since salvation is by grace through faith in His Son Jesus (Acts 10:34-43), is it any wonder that Paul wanted the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling? When one understands what it cost God to bring about redemption, one must stand in admiration of God’s love. Christians are now a part of the new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 21:1-2). What does this position in Christ mean to you? What does it really mean to work out one’s salvation with fear and trembling? Is Paul teaching that one earns his or her salvation through works? How do you view salvation? Is salvation by works or is salvation by grace? What is Paul exhorting the Philippians to do? Does “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) contradict what Paul says to Titus?
But when the kindness and love of God our
Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,
but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and
renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus
Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become
heirs having the hope of eternal life (Titus 2:4-7).
Paul speaks of working out one’s salvation in Philippians
2:12, but in Titus 2,
he speaks not of working out one’s
salvation, but rather of God’s initiative in one’s salvation. Paul is writing
to individuals in Philippi that were already Christians. In other words,
salvation is something they already possessed through God’s mercy. Is there a
case for one’s own exertion in good works? Grace does not make one frivolous
and idle. Christ has been given in order that a transformation may come about
in one’s life. This new life in Jesus is not intended to be merely
inward, but rather the new life in Christ is to manifest itself outwardly in
good works and faithfulness to the Gospel of God. Even though one is saved by
grace through faith, nevertheless, Paul does not discount “good works” as
necessary for the believer? No! Good works are things God ordained before
the foundation of the world. Paul goes
right to the heart of the matter when he writes: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians
2:10). Prior to this
call to the Ephesians for “good works,” Paul clearly advances salvation by
God’s grace. Again, he goes right to
the root of redemption:
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:4-9).
Paul desires that in the inner life of every believer that the Lord comes to birth. In other words, Paul desires that Christ be formed in them. Throughout his Epistles, Paul includes exhortations for domestic life. One cannot read the Epistles or the Gospels without a consciousness that the radical claims of God are as valid today as they were then. As one reflects upon Paul’s letter to Titus, one sees how Paul forcefully draws attention to good works in the scheme of redemption following one’s salvation by God’s grace:
This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you
to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to
devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and
profitable for everyone (Titus 3:8).
Paul, in writing to the Philippians, makes a practical appeal to good works based on the Gospel of God’s grace (Philippians 1:3-9). In other words, he sets forth the scheme of redemption and then calls for conduct that will glorify God. He wants the Philippians to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Earlier in this Epistle, Paul discusses partnership with God in the Gospel and God working in them:
I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (1:3-4).
Because of one’s partnership
in the Gospel, then one’s behavior does matter to God: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner
worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). Throughout the Epistles of Paul, he lays
down the principles of Christian living. God has put the feet of the converted
in a new direction. Christians are no longer to live for themselves, but to
God. How can one live a life of defiance of God’s grace? The Sermon on the
Mount demands that every believer submit himself or herself to the
unconditional will of God. Christians are to bear witness to the kingdom of God
in their daily walk with Him as well as their testimony about God’s Way of
salvation in and through Christ. When one accepts Christ as Lord in his or her
life, this acceptance of a new life in Christ means a redemptive life which
leavens the framework of the society within which one lives.
NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Two Masters
How
can anyone appropriate the gift of redemption, and, at the same time, live a
life that is totally opposed to the teachings of Jesus? One cannot serve two
masters (God and money) at the same time (Matthew 6:24). One must
begin to see his or her life as life that works for the kingdom of God. When
one really understands the cost of redemption, one will become a missionary to
everyone he or she meets. When one really understands redemption, one’s
priorities will never be the same. When one grasps the Cross of Jesus, one will
seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (6:33). What is first in
your life? Is it pleasure? Is it money? Is it your family? Is it God? Is God
last in your priorities? God reaches out to fallen humanity in and through the
Cross of Jesus. Humanity is fast stuck in the mire of hopelessness, but God
comes to both men and women in the Incarnation and through the Cross. This
reflection upon God’s activity in one’s salvation is Paul’s characteristic way
of making an appeal for conduct and ethical behavior.
For the grace of God that brings salvation
has appeared to all men. It
teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for
the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify
for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These,
then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority.
Do not let anyone despise you (Titus 1:11-15).
When one is in Christ, the motives of greed,
aims of self-seeking, evils of malice, obstacles of resentment, problems with
drugs, evils of alcohol, difficulties with adultery and fornication, dilemmas
with relationships (in the family as well as outside the family), and attitudes
of rudeness are put aside. Paul sets forth the works of the flesh that one
should cast off:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is youra life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.b 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator (Colossians 3:1-10).
In one’s new relationship, these things cease
to exist as a part of one’s walk with Christ. Christians are to exemplify
Christ in their every day behavior. Christians are to carry out the Master’s
work of reconciling both men and women unto God through Jesus. A consciousness
of the Cross of Jesus as a Divine act of reconciliation should awaken in
everyone a sense of awe, or adoration. As stated above, Jesus, in His death
upon the Cross, tasted the full sense of remoteness from God (Matthew 27:46).
It is not uncommon for Paul to lay down “grace” first, and then say, as it
were, “If you believe this, then, cannot you see that this redemption inevitably
necessitates a change in one’s life style.” In the Book of Romans, Paul
calls attention to this new behavior that Christians are to manifest in their
daily walk with God:
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,a that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace (Romans 6:1-14).
He
does not confront individuals with a way of life, and then say, “Go and live
it.” But rather, Paul tells them about
the things that have been done for them, and then says, “Now then—go and live
it.” God Himself has done what is necessary for one’s salvation. Christianity
is not so much a belief in an idea as it is a belief in an act—the death of
Christ upon the Cross. It is the act of
God in redemption that has changed the whole relationship between humanity and
God. God came to men in love and suffered so that both men and women could be
united with each other and with Him. As you make this transition from doctrine,
that is to say, the Good News about salvation in Jesus, there is always a
“therefore” (Philippians 2:12). There is a logical sequence from doctrine to
behavior. Every believer must take up
his cross and follow Jesus daily (Matthew 16:24).
What does it mean to “work out your salvation” (Philippians
2:12)? Are you
working out your salvation? Have you examined your own life (2 Corinthians 13:5)?
There comes a time when one may need a second conversion, that is to say, a
renewal of one’s commitment to the kingdom of God (see Revelation 3:14-22).
Where do you stand in your relationship with God? Have you lost your heightened
sense of emotional response to God? Where do you stand in your relationship
with God? Are you stronger today than you were six months ago? Many Christians
do not have a spiritual history, that is to say, many Christians at age sixty
are where they were at age twenty-five. Is there a great deal of arrested
development in your spiritual life? Do you desire the things of God more than
you desire the things of the world (see 2 John 2:15-17)? How do
you view sin? If you knew that Jesus was coming next week, would there be a
change in your devotion to the things of God (2 Corinthians 13:3)? If
the doctors were to tell you that you only have one year to live, what changes
would you make in your spiritual life? Would you still use Sunday as a day to
hunt? Would you still use Sunday as a day to visit relatives? Would you still
use Sunday as a day to go to the lake? Would you still use Sunday as a day to
make more money?
Before one can work out his or her own
salvation, one must see his or her
sinfulness, his or her allegiance to God, and his or her need of divine
help. The Philippians, too, realized
that they were sinners saved by grace.
They also were conscious that at one time they were under the wrath of
God; they were aware that at one time they were under the dominion of sin; they
were mindful that at one time they were under the curse of the law; and they
were cognizant that at one time they were under condemnation. They knew that at one time they were guilty
in the sight of God. They had heard and
believed the Good News of the Gospel, that is to say, God sent His only
begotten Son to die in order to make atonement for them. Now it is time to produce fruit worthy of
repentance (see Matthew
3:7-10). What kind of fruit is there in your life?
Work Out Your Salvation
“Working out your salvation” simply means that one is to achieve, to
bring to pass, and to lead a life that results in “good works”—works that gives
pleasure to God. One must now work on
the salvation given to him or her through faith in Jesus. Just as John the Baptizer exhorted the
religious leaders to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8), so must every believer work
out his or her salvation with awe and reverence. One must submit himself or
herself entirely to God. What kind of works or fruit is involved in the works
that Paul speaks of in the Philippian letter?
To begin with, let us reflect upon the words of Jesus in the healing of
a man born blind:
As he went along, he saw a man blind from
birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents
sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be
displayed in his life. As
long as it is day, we must do the
work of him who sent me.
Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world”
(John 9:1-5).
Partial or Unlimited Devotion?
As one reflects upon the work of
God in one’s life, one must be mindful that in Christ there is no such thing as
partial devotion. Just simple devotion to Christ is not enough. In other words,
devotion must be unlimited and unconditional. When one loves Jesus, there is
complete and unreserved commitment to the ways of God (Matthew 22:37-40). Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, sets
forth the necessity of good works. In
calling attention to fruit production in their lives, He also informs His
disciples that they too are the “light of the world.” It appears that works and light go together. Jesus proclaims ethical behavior for his
followers:
You are the salt
of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty
again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled
by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be
hidden. Neither do people
light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it
gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise
your Father in heaven
(Matthew 5:13-16).
When one makes a commitment to Christ, one
cannot remain what he or she was before conversion; one must go forward or
perish. When God calls men and women to be His partners, He desires their
corporation in the whole range of their human activities. Christians are called
out of the world only to be sent back into the world to bring about the
transfiguration of the world to God’s glory. When one withholds his or her
allegiance to God, one weakens his or her influence for the community of the
redeemed. When the world sees you, does the world see Christ and your
commitment to the society that He founded? Where are your priorities? Has the
new life of God broken into your life? Again, Jesus speaks of working for the
food that endures for eternal life:
Do not work for
food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of
Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the
works God requires?” Jesus
answered, “The work of God is this: to
believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:27-29).
To believe on the One whom God sent is to
work out one’s salvation with fear and trembling. The new reality in Christ must express itself in new forms of
behavior that will glorify God. To be a Christian is to undergo a complete
change of mind, from the carnal to the spiritual. What does your new life in Christ mean to you? Do you really
believe in the One whom God sent? Has your mind and heart been opened to the
message of God’s grace that comes through Jesus Christ. Are you aware that you
are the channel of God’s grace to the world? God has placed His message in
earthen vessels to proclaim the Good News of salvation to a lost and dying
world (2
Corinthians 4:7). Has God’s grace made a difference in your
ethical behavior and your willingness to preach the Gospel? Have you presented
your body as a sacrifice to God? What Paul told the Philippians to do
concerning kingdom behavior is also set forth in his letter to the Romans:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to
God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and
perfect will (Romans 12:1-2).
How does one present his or her body a living
sacrifice? Is it through rituals or
through ethical behavior? Is it through
producing good fruit in one’s way of life?
Immediately upon calling upon the Roman Christians to present their
bodies as a living sacrifice, Paul catalogues a number of characteristics that
exemplify Christ in their lives:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good. Be
devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your
spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in
prayer. Share with God’s
people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you;
bless and do not curse. Rejoice
with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one
another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low
position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to
do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it
depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends,
but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I
will repay,” says the Lord. On
the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans
12:9-21).
This
is what it means to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. We have been given a new start; we have been
given a new nature. Salvation is set
before us. We need to read the Word of
God; we need to pray; we need to share salvation; we need to proclaim
redemption. Just as David, the
psalmist, expresses his gratitude for God’s kindness, so must every believer
allow gratefulness on his or her lips.
David exclaims:
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law
is within my heart. I
proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you
know, O LORD. I do not hide
your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I
do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly (Psalms 40:8-10).
The believer loves the Word, lives the Word, and preaches the
Word. Do you desire to do the will of
God? Do you proclaim God’s
righteousness? Do you hide His
righteousness in your heart? Do you
conceal God’s love and truth? Are you a
silent Christian? Does your inner being
rejoice in God’s law? Every Christian
makes known the wonders of God’s love through His Son Jesus. It is in this same vein of David’s delight
with the law that Paul, too, cries out: “in my inner being I delight in God’s
law” (Romans 7:22). Where is your delight? Where is your happiness? Where is your enjoyment? Is it in Christian ministry? Is it in the Word of God? Is your life in harmony with the law of
God? Or is your life out of harmony
with the law of God? Where are
you? How do you stand? How do you measure up to God’s
standard? The first chapter in the Book
of Psalms sets forth the distinction between the godly and the ungodly. Which section of this Psalm do you fall
into—godly or ungodly? This psalm is
one that every Christian should memorize.
Listen to the Holy Spirit:
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the
counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of
mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law
he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams
of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not
so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore
the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the
righteous. 6 For the LORD
watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish (Psalms 1:1-6).
Since God clothed you with His righteousness, are you devoting yourself to God? Are you consecrating yourself to prayer? Are you dedicating yourself to ministry? Paul concludes his letter to the Colossians with these words:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful
and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message,
so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as
I should” (Colossians 4:2-4).
Are you praying for the advancement of God’s kingdom? Are you proclaiming the message of redemption? Are you working and praying for unity among God’s people? Do you have concern for those who live outside your familiar orthodox boundaries?
CONCLUSION
In
the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as
it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). Are
you working and praying for God’s will to “be done on earth as it is in
heaven”? Has the sense of God disappeared from your life? Are you
guilty of not working out this amazing salvation with fear and trembling that
God has given? What does “fear and
trembling” mean to you? Negatively, it does not mean that one works out his or
her salvation in the sense of earning one’s salvation. But rather, this working is in the spirit of
admiration. In other words, the
believer with humility and holy reverence works out his or her salvation in the
spirit of wonder and amazement at such love; it is a holy vigilance and
circumspection and alertness at the wonder of it all. The Christian constantly offers up a sacrifice of praise. Remember the words of the Hebrew writer as
he encourages sacrifice of praise for redemption:
Through Jesus, therefore, let us
continually offer
to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do
not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is
pleased (Hebrews 13:15-16).
With every believer, it is, “I desire to do
your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalms 40:8). Just as David could not seal his lips
(Psalms 40:10) about God’s
righteousness, God’s faithfulness, God’s salvation, or God’s love, so, too,
every Christian shares the Good News of God’s righteousness made available
through faith in His Son Jesus. Jesus
is God’s righteousness for everyone who believes (Jeremiah 23:5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:30). One cannot seal his or her lips about God’s
righteousness made available through faith in Jesus. Paul sets forth this
righteousness from God in rapturous language to the Romans:
This righteousness from God comes through
faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that came by Christ Jesus. God
presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did
this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the
sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at
the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have
faith in Jesus (Romans 3:22-26).
Jesus is God’s faithfulness. It is in Jesus that one finds hope. It is in Jesus that one discovers
security. One cannot seal his or her
lips about God’s faithfulness. Paul
writes,
For I am convinced that neither death nor
life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any
powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able
to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
In Romans,
chapter 5, Paul speaks of freedom from the “wrath” of God
through Jesus our Lord. He goes right
to the heart of salvation. It is not in
man, but it is in Jesus. Again, one
cannot seal his or her lips about freedom from God’s wrath in Jesus. One cannot seal his or her lips about God’s
reconciliation in Jesus. Jesus is God’s
salvation for lost humanity:
Since we have now been justified by his
blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we
were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been
reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5:9-11).
Thus, like David, when one thinks of Him, one does not seal his or her
lips; nor does one cease to do His will.
In closing this message, one should reflect upon the words of the Hebrew
writer:
May the God of peace, who through the blood
of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great
Shepherd of the sheep, equip
you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is
pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever (Hebrews 13:20-21).