Working it out...

It's always so insightful to have a conversation with other Christians. It very quickly becomes a spiritual sharpening session - where we jointly rightly divide the word of God and are always the better for it. It's also so refreshing to spend time sharpening each other.*

Recently some of us were talking about associations and the impact they have on us and even on our children. We shared examples of how people misinterpret the Word in order to suit their flesh. When one of us said: "The Bible tells us to 'work out our own salvation...'**" it hit me in a different way. A lot of us interpret that verse as the effort we individually need to put into growing spiritually which includes: praying and reading our Bible each day.

I particularly like how the Amplified version explains how we should work out our salvation - we need to "shrink from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ." Working out our salvation also means that sometimes we need to courageously "walk out" of relationships/associations that donot help us retain or deepen our relationship with God.

As you progress your walk with the Lord, you must continue to work out your salvation.
Be alert and ready to walk out of relationships that will not support your walk with the Lord.

References:
*Prov 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (NIV)

**Phil 2:12b - Work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). (Amplified)
1 Cor 10:12 - Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. (Amplified)