Not Our Laurels, But His Finished Work

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will. (Big Book, pg. 85)

"Spiritual program. . ." the very phrase invites derision.

We do not "work" a spiritual anything, for the Spirit of God works by grace in us.

"Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3: 3)

We do not work up God's salvation, but rather work out what God has already worked in:

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)

No passage in the Big Book so wars against the rest and relief which believers are called to receive in Christ Jesus!

Alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism.

In Christ, every enemy is vanquished, including alcohol abuse, which is a work of the flesh!:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. " (Colossians 2: 13-15)

Every demon, every devil, every evil thing has been vanquished once and for all. Our job is to adopt the same attitude of triumph that our Lord Jesus has:

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2: 14)

We are more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8: 37). We are not called to fight, but to stand in His victory (Ephesians 6: 13). Like Jesus, we are sitting at the right hand of God, as Jesus is, so are we in this world (1 John 4: 17). And what does God the Father tell His Son to do:

"Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? " (Hebrews 1: 12)

We are not called to work for what God has so freely given us (Romans 8: 32)

We do not rest on our laurels, nor do we try to get what God has already given us (Ephesians 1: 3), but rather we rest in God's Finished Work -- His Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, who lives in us, and works in us!