What Indeed

What Indeed 

by David Brenneman 

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13.

What plans do you have? 

What are you going to do today?

Before you set yourself up for what you think you are going to be doing...have you asked God about it? Is that not what is at the heart of the passage we read in Philippians?

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.

Sure seems that the Spirit is saying something here. That we who are in Christ have something to be doing for the Kingdom of God in our time here on the Earth. 

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.

Ahh there it is from Jesus Himself. 

So in this day you have before you...how much of it have you set aside to be with Jesus doing that which you are called to be doing?

There are no couch potatoe Christians. There are no armchair quarterback Christians. There are none who sit around doing nothing Christians either. At least the Spirit teaches that there ought not be none.  

"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." James 1:22.

How much time do you stop and think about the things of God?

How much importance do you put on the truth that someday you will give an account of your life before Jesus?

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10.

This judgment isn't with regards to punishment, for He Himself bore our punishment for our sins upon Himself on that cross.

This judgment has every single thing to do with every single thing you have done with yourself since coming to Christ for salvation. These things you have done to prove yourselves doers of the word and not just hearers only. 

Please, my Dear Reader, do not limit yourself in this regard! It matters not how big or small your part of the body of Christ is!  

Just do what you're given to be doing with all your heart.  

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." Colossians 3:23-24.  

"For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it." 1 Corinthians 12:14-27.

Lastly consider this well....

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

What you do in your today matters. 

What you think in your today matters. 

Where you go in your life matters. 

What takes up your time matters. 

Our Earthly decisions have eternal consequences.  

When we came to Christ we changed our address with that particular Earthly decision. 

We changed our eternal address from Hell to Heaven by coming to Christ for salvation. 

Now we represent to the rest of the world what a Citizen of Heaven is to be like. We used to aim to please ourselves in every way. After coming to Christ and receiving Christ Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we are to aim to please Him in every way. 

He took our sins upon Himself on that cross in order to bring new life, not more of the same old life, to all who would call upon Him in faith. 

Shine your light before men in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16.

So before you set yourself up for your today...ask yourself what might God have in mind for me today? Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.