Connect 21- Prayer + Fasting - Holy Spirit, Our HelperSample

Day 19 | Work It Out

Christ’s death on the cross paid the total price for our salvation. It met all of God’s standards and made a way for us to be saved, redeemed, and made right with Him. Salvation is complete. So, let’s consider why Paul says, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Paul is not telling us to work to be saved, because we cannot save or sanctify ourselves. Salvation is God’s job. God is working in us, and He promised to finish the good work He began in us when we first trusted Christ as our Savior. In the above passage, Paul is calling believers to grow spiritually.

Spiritual growth means living more and more in a way that honors God by relying on the Holy Spirit’s strength. It involves trusting God’s Word and relying on His grace to overcome sin and the temptations of the world. We are called to let go of sinful behaviors and desires. When we encounter the challenges and obstacles of life, we should resolve them by relying on the strength of the Spirit, focusing on Jesus, and approaching each life situation with prayer, praise, and gratitude. Our responsibility is to “achieve our salvation” by dedicating our lives to serving the Lord.

To “work out our salvation” means to live for the glory of God rather than for our own. It is achieved by focusing on spiritual matters, submitting to His will, and pursuing His calling on our lives with reverence and fear of the Lord. The ability to do this is granted to us by God when we refrain from being influenced by the enticements of the flesh or an unbiblical worldview. Living this way, we experience the peace and joy of walking closely with God.

Suppose we choose not to grow spiritually and instead give in to worldly desires. In that case, we miss the fullness of joy, peace, and the heavenly rewards God has promised. Spiritual maturity requires dedication, but God’s strength working in us makes it possible.

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to develop spiritual maturity? What actions and attitudes do you have to release so the grace of God can set you free?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the finished work of the cross that secures my salvation. Help me to trust You in every challenge and situation, and guide me as I grow in spiritual maturity. Strengthen me to work out my salvation with reverence and faithfulness. In Jesus’s name, amen.