Ok- I am going to make an obvious statement that should shock no one who knows me… I am a controlling guy. I enjoy -maybe even need- control. I like what I like and I’d like it now. God works more on me in waiting on and seeking Him more than any other area. That rather obvious fact, coupled with some time spent with a young leader this week, as well as some time preparing for this Sunday’s message from Ruth 3, has led to this blog post. (Now you know why I blog so infrequently… the amount of thinking required hurts me to think about.)
At any rate, this trifecta of circumstances brings me to a couple of verses from the Apostle Paul, that have always made me think:

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. – Philippians 2:12-13

What does it really mean to “work out your salvation?”… There are a lot of ways to answer that question, Biblically, unbiblically, Baptistly, Assembly of God-ly, culturally, whatever. I dont know that I have a definitive answer, but maybe some follow up questions:

• Did you understand everything about following Christ when you made the decision to follow Him?
• Did you wait until you did, before you did?
• Since committing your life to Christ, has God shown you anything new?
• Are you waiting for perfection before pursuing His will or opportunities He has presented to you?
• Isn’t our faith best served to be something we struggle with rather than just know and move on?

It seems to me that the answer falls in the difference in became vs becoming…

When I was nine years old, I became a Christ follower. This morning, I woke up and continued becoming a Christ follower. I became a father when Macy was put into our arms, I am becoming a father every day as she and I grow. I became a Pastor (at some point – although my ordination council was very unorthodox) and am every day am becoming a Pastor.

We will never arrive. We can lose a lot of valuable time making a difference in the lives of others waiting around for ourselves or others to become what we think we need. Rather, shouldn’t we pursue becoming more of what God has called us to be?  Shouldn’t we look more toward what God can develop in others more than what they can provide to us?

For our campus and church… is it really about what it is today or should be, or more about what it is becoming?

Lots of questions… So glad that Paul goes on to remind me that it is “God who works in you” – maybe I can give up some control, maybe take a step back and watch what He will do, and act accordingly. This just became a blog post, but is prayerfully becoming a way of thinking.