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TODAY’S WORD…

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Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…

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– Philippians 2:12 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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“Fear and trembling? Oh come on!

This is the 21st century…and fear and trembling don’t feature in anything

…not anymore!

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This is all a religious ploy to keep everyone submissive to the Church!

Fear and trembling is a thing of the past.

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Religion, when it tells me how I should live my life, as well as what I must not do,

is also a thing of the past!

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Now please just let me live my life!”

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~ ~ ~

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“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…”

These words are, in fact, an urgent invitation

to those of us who claim to believe in and love God.

They urge us to determinedly support, with all our strength,

the action of God’s grace in our soul.

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The "fear" and the "trembling" is understood by the good and humble

who do not want to displease their Lord God, who loves them,

and so they press on in obedience, no matter what.

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This submissive frame of mind is sweetened

by the sure knowledge that God, who so loves us, is urging us to do our utmost to be holy

so that we will, one day, join Him in His Heavenly Kingdom.

And that fills us with great joy!

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Let us then work on our holiness

by going to the very source of our salvation – the Word of God –

wherein we renew our hearts and minds

and come into His presence with a spirit of reverence and awe.

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~ ~ ~

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Is “holiness” an old-fashioned and passé state of character for me?

If it is, then God must also be an archaic concept, for which I have no time.

How sad!

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, You are my salvation. Your Word is my guide and Your love strengthens my spirit.

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