Inside-Out: Profile of a Christian?

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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-

This writer has to acknowledge his dissatisfaction with a particular turn in the game of basketball.  As one who enjoyed the inside game while a high school player, using the backboard and rim to his own advantage against taller players on occasion, he regrets that he never got to see Rex Leach play the game.  Leach, who preceded the writer by about four years, was a stand-out at Ohio’s Vienna High School.  News reports highlighted his inside game–he was very skillful around the backboard.  Leach still holds Ohio’s single season scoring record (44 ppg), and four years ago a new gymnasium was named in his honor.  To be sure, Leach’s high school basketball predated the widening of the “keyhole.”  This writer believes the game has lost something with the widening of the keyhole and, subsequently, with the institution of the 3-point shot.  Originally high school basketball was an inside-out game featuring 6’2″ players at times outplaying much taller men by skillfully using the rim and backboard to their advantage.  “Sour grapes”? –perhaps, but a timely way to underscore Paul’s profile of a Christian.

The apostle instructed Christians to keep on working out their salvation “with fear and trembling” knowing that “it is God who works” within them both “to will and to act according to his good purpose.”  Apart from God’s first work, Christians would never have the “will” to “act” according to God’s “good purpose.”  The Christian life is an inside-out continuum of events–at times three steps backward and two steps forward!  My what patience God has with His people!  The apostle John implied as much when he stated, “We love because he first loved us”!

Christians are an “inside-out” group!  How is our inside game at this moment?  Are we  struggling against the yoke that leads to our obedience?  Have we forgotten the words of Christ?

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. [1]       

Inside-out–that is the Christian way!  Have you been turned inside-out?   Whether we are children, teens, young adults, or aged, there are many applications of the teaching of Christ and the holy apostles, but the key of Philippians 2:12-13 is the inside-out connection.  We do well to respect it!

Endnotes

[1]. Matt. 11:28-30

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David C. Brand – Author, Profile of the Last Puritan: Jonathan Edwards, Self-Love, and the Dawn of the Beatific,

American Academy of Region (Academy Series), Scholars Press, 1991

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