Beloved

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12-13, NASB

Silent exhale. Deep inhale. Breathe through your nose. Calm yourself enough where you can hear your heartbeat.

Exhale. Inhale.

I’m still working it out.

I’m not there. None of us are. I’m still working it out like everyone else.

Stuart Smaley was right about me…

But Jesus was even right-er…

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesian 2:10, NIV

So what’s my mission?

Being God’s handiwork. Doing good works. Working out my salvation.* Seeking refinement, seeking continuation. Working it out.

That’s easy, right.

Yeah. Just a lil process.

Nice dodge. Answer the question, Adam

It’s been 10+ years since I stopped wearing my “Pastor Adam” hat. And going from “inside the church” to “sitting in the pews” has been a long, slow, and sometimes ugly transition.

But when you work at a church and people call you pastor, it’s kinda easy to know what your mission looks like. But, as I’ve been absorbing, it’s not that easy for everyone else.

So the honest truth is, even at 43, I feel like I’m still kinda working it all out.

And I’m OK with that.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Beloved.

*I’m gonna toss up a note just because I don’t want the comment. I know, I know… Jesus does the work of salvation. Yep, he completes it on His own. I am not a greek scholar but I think it’s just as it’s written. Salvation, even when received, is a hard thing to grasp. I think most people spend a lifetime working it out.