Philippians 2:12b work out own salvation with fear and trembling.

I studied diligently on the anointing yesterday. I focused on the oil. I had good stuff ready to publish and then I proof read it. It was hard and convicting. It wasn’t for you. It was meant for me. It will not get published.

There was this mechanic once, real or not, I do not know. He worked all day changing other people’s oil. He was good at his job but by the time he was through with his day, he just wanted to rest. Then one day as he drove to work his car threw a rod and ruined his engine. When he took into the shop, the mechanic looked at him and said, “When is the last time you changed your oil?”

Serving others is no excuse for failing to work out my own salvation. The fear and trembling part comes from knowing what will happen when you fail to do your own maintenance. Salvation maintenance is not something you can leave to your pastor or Sunday school teacher. You have to do it yourself.

A good devotional is one in which the word has been applied to the author’s life first and well tested. I lost sight of that and God was gracious enough to call me on it.

Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

Luke 19:9 Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

I feel like I dropped a bomb on you yesterday. Confession and forgiveness is about restoration of relationship with God but has nothing to do with restoration of relationship with your fellow man. Sin still has earthly consequences. This is the more difficult issue to deal with.

God loves you perfectly and His reaction to confession is predictable. Mankind on the other hand is less than perfect and their reaction to any effort to restore right relationship is subject to them. It is our responsibility to try for the commandment is to love God and then one another.

Years ago some of my work responsibility was shifted from me to a co-worker. Fear of losing my job crept into my heart and I voiced an opinion which was unkind. It got back to her. Being convicted of my actions I went to her and confessed my sin and asked forgiveness. Her reaction was that she didn’t have it in her to forgive.

After I left her cubical another employee approached me and said that I did the right thing. Because of my effort I was restored in relationship with this person, even if not with the other. I did what was right and the burden of forgiveness moved off me to the one with the unforgiving heart.

Proverbs 25:21-22 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

Doing the right thing relieves you of the burden.