First is obedience. Paul says you have always obeyed in my presence, now much more in my absence, obey. Obey my life and teachings. Follow me as I follow Christ.

Now obedience is interesting. God wants much more from you than this, but he does not want less. The Christian life is much more than sheer obedience, but it is never disobedience. It is never less than obedience. God wants you to live a life of love and grace, but if those things are not present in your life yet, start with obedience.

You know why I starting tipping my waiters? Because I don’t want to go to hell. I used to not tip them, but then I realized that lovers of money go to hell and God’s people are generous. The only reason I didn’t tip was that I loved money, and I didn’t want to go to hell so I started tipping. As I started tipping, I started talking to the waiters. I found out they are humans. Now I do it out of love, and out of a desire to see these guys blessed. When I did it out of obedience, I felt pretty self righteous about it. Now I feel humbled to be waited on, and I want to do it.

The Christian life often starts with obedience. It will lead to more but never less.

B. Effort

Second, we become what God has called us to be through effort. God has planted the seeds of holiness within us. He causes them to grow. But we have to do things to encourage them to grow. Our holiness comes by grace, but we have to let grace do its work. We have to go where grace is, and put ourselves under her power.

If someone wants to eat, and you give him land and seeds, then he should be able to eat. But not if he just sits on the land and never plants the seeds. You cannot make a seed grow. But you do know that it will never grow if you don’t put it in the ground, keep the weeds away, and give it water. God makes the garden grow, but you have to do the work of gardening.

You cannot make yourself holy. Only God can make you holy through his grace. But you know how to keep yourself from being holy. If you do nothing to avoid temptation, you will not change. If you know sexual immorality is a temptation for you, but refuse to break off bad relationships, refuse to put a filter on your computer, or refuse to end your subscription to HBO, then you know you will never grow.

You also have to do the positive things. God has given you the Bible, but you have to read it. God has promised to meet you in worship, but you have to come. God hears you pray, but you have to pray. God encourages you through community, but you have to join the group.

God has promised to make you beautiful and holy, and committed himself to do that. But if you will not make the effort, then you will not change.

C. Awe

Finally, Paul describes our attitude during our obedience and effort. He says with fear and trembling. Again, we assume that means judgment is coming if we fail. But please, pay attention to what he says. Not fearing because of judgment, we fear because of grace.

God himself is at work in us. God, that powerful shekinah glory cloud that drove the priests from the temple is within us. The God who spoke the universe into existence, and then dwelt over the seas bringing beauty out of the chaos is within us. He is working, so have reverence. God is here.