November 27

The apostle Paul wrote these words of wisdom to the Christians living in Philippi. “Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear” (2:12). In the New International Version, it reads, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Paul is not suggesting that our salvation is something we earn. The NLT more accurately captures his thought, “put into action God’s saving work in your lives.” In other words, “now that you know you are saved, apply your new position with God into the way you live.” Why were those words necessary? Because there simply is no way scripture can tell us what to do in everything we encounter in life. Christian maturity involves knowing the commands and general principles God has given us and then applying them to our particular situations.
Should a Christian play cards? Attend movies? If so, which movies are okay? How long should a Christian wear his hair? Her skirt? Is dancing okay? What kind of dancing? With whom? What kinds of clothes are acceptable to wear? Which ones are too suggestive? Is it okay to eat lunch with someone of the opposite sex who is not our spouse? What about going on business trips with someone who is not our spouse? Is it permissable to consume alcohol? If so, how much? The list goes on and on.
In the first century, some believers were troubled by eating meat if part of it had already been sacrificed to an idol while others weren’t. Others decided not to eat meat period, but stay with a diet of vegetables only. Some believers thought it was okay to worship every day while others felt like only certain days were set aside and special enough for that purpose. In addition to his many commands, Paul’s writings also contain general principles that are helpful in making these kinds of daily decisions. “Each person should have a personal conviction......while we live we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:5,8). “Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God.....Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God” for the way we’ve lived and the choices we’ve made (14:10,12). “I know and am perfectly sure on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another Christian is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died” (vss.14&15). “Let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up” (v.19).
God has placed a conscience within each of us and so long as we are sincerely in tune with His will in our lives, we would be wise to listen to our conscience (vs.23). It is possible to sear our conscience to the point that it is no longer reliably guiding us, but that is why Christians must “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is” (12:2). “So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise” (Ephesians 5:15).