-
to lay hold of so as to make one's own, to obtain, attain to, to
make one's own, to take into one's self, appropriate
-
to seize upon, take possession of"
Last night watched Season 2 Episode
6 of "The Chosen" where Mary Magdalene did what Baptists would call
back sliding. She was redeemed by Jesus but felt unworthy and
went back to her old life of sin and wickedness before being sought
out by 2 disciples and brought back to Jesus.
It reminded me of something I
learned this past year that salvation has 3 parts 1) Redemption 2)
Sanctification 3) Glorification. Redemption occurs when we're
born again. Glorification won't occur until our bodies are
made perfect after we die or Jesus returns. Sanctification is
what you might call "the messy middle".
It also reminds me of another great passage from Philippians,
chapter 2:11-13 where Paul says "12 Therefore, my beloved, as you
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more
in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for
His good pleasure."
So in this messy middle we call the life of a Christian, or more
specifically for our podcast the life of a Christian man in the
workplace, we are to work out our salvation with fear and
trembling, which for me means that we should take this very
seriously and realize how incredibly important it is. God's
will is NOT for us to sit back with confidence that our ticket to
heaven has been bought and we should just live our life as we
choose knowing we'll eventually be with Jesus in
Heaven.
Verse 14 says " Do all
things without
[d]complaining and disputing,
[e] 15 that you may become blameless
and
[f]harmless,
children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and
perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the
world,"
Blameless does not mean perfect but rather that we are pursuing
perfect obedience to God.
In John 17:3 Jesus says "And this is eternal life, that
they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom You have sent."
Sanctification is the adventure of a lifetime, not a holding
pattern until we die. It IS eternal life, knowing God now,
here, while we are on earth.
Both the Phillipians passages I've ready illustrate so well the
mysterious way that God is actively involved in our lives, in our
sanctification, while still expecting that we play a role
in the process as well. We are to lay hold of that for which
Christ Jesus has also laid hold of us. We are to work out our
salvation because God works in us both to will and to do for our
good pleasure. Do I fully comprehend that, no. Am I
blown away by how cool it is, YES. We don't do good to be
saved. We do good because we are saved. And remember
salvation is redemption, sanctification, and
glorification.
Now I'd like to read to you the First Light devotion I got
from Pastor Brian Biggers this morning that inspired me to talk
about this topic for this Selah Episode. By the way, if you
haven't signed up for his devotion I recommend you do it right
away. For one thing, he just sent out an email last week
indicating the church he's pastor of, Lambs Chapel, is seeking a
new senior pastor because he's retiring, so go to tlcalive.com, go
to the bottom where it says connect, and click on "First
Light"
How I love this verse and the truth that it conveys! The words "lay
hold" are "arrested" in our modern vernacular. I have been arrested
a few times (none recently) and I assure you it can be a rather
forceful event! The Bible states here that Jesus "arrested" those
of us that follow Him. Just as a policeman pursues a criminal to
arrest him Jesus pursued us relentlessly to make us His.
"Arresters" don't ask, and they don't take no for an answer. How
thankful I am that He pursued me and "arrested" me for Himself!
But, notice the rest. This verse states that He "arrested" me for
something, and I am to "arrest" that which He "arrested"
me for. What is it that He "arrested" me for? Heaven?
Absolutely! But what about now? His Word reveals the
treasury of what He has promised when I am in His family.
Holy Spirit power to live, love, be at peace, have hope
in my heart, live joyously regardless of circumstances among other
great gifts. He promises a life of adventure as I experience His
activity in me and around me. He has promised great
relationships that He has planned for me. The catalog of faith
benefits is almost endless! Obvious question? If He has promised
all this great stuff as a result of my "arrest" by Him, where is
it? I am willing to be blessed, but I don't see the goods! Go back
and read the rest of the verse. You will see that His promised
blessings are not automatic, nor do they fall like ripe cherries on
me as a believer. What does it say? I must "press on" and "lay
hold" of what my heart longs for. A passive religious attitude
will leave you blessingless! (it’s a word) I hear aggression in
this great Word! I hear a man saying, "if Christ died to bless me
then I will go after it until I get it". I may not know how but He
don't lie, and I am not going to give up on what He has
promised. Do not settle (hate that word) for a less that abundant
life when He died to give you something much better! Have you
resigned to "getting by"? May I appeal to you from
scripture? Do you not think that He who created everything
beautiful from the sunset to the coastal plain to the bluebird to
the smile of a newborn cannot create a beautiful
life? Quit wishing and go fishing! Quit existing and
start dreaming again! Decide to "lay hold" of what He died to
purchase for you!