The Work of God IN You is Exciting

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13

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.

Insights:  Let me start today’s Thoughts by Scott with the truth that salvation is not based on any work that I do or any challenge I accomplish for God.  Salvation is a work of Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection are the only works that bring about salvation.  God is the One who initiates the drawing on one’s heart to bring them to salvation and God does all the work.  I clarify this because in today’s verses some have taken the phrase work out your salvation as a doctrinal position that one saves oneself.  The better way to think of this phrase is like a person that works out with weights.  The more the person lifts weights, the stronger the person gets.  If the person stops lifting weights, the weaker the person gets.  Paul is telling us if we desire to have exciting joy-filled worship, then we need to work out our salvation.  If this idea is the concept Paul is dispensing, and it is, then how do we work out our salvation?  That is where the next phrase in the verse comes into play.  God works IN us.  He leads us to practice the spiritual disciplines of life and we get stronger, but it is Him guiding us into these practices.  It is Him taking these disciplines and molding our lives into the image of Jesus.  Our worship comes from within because of God’s transforming work as we work out our salvation.  Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Too many Christians obey God only because of pressure on the outside, and not power on the inside. . . .  We have a tendency to please men, and to obey God only when others are watching.  But when you surrender to the power of God within you, then obedience becomes a delight and not a battle.”  The reason for this delight is because of the joy with which the Lord grants you as you work out your salvation with fear and trembling.  Beloved, start sweating for Jesus as you practice the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading, prayer, fasting, tithing, witnessing, serving, sacrificing, worshipping corporately in church and the many other disciplines available to us as Christ-followers.  Let God use those work outs to work IN you for His glory.

Questions:

1.  In what ways is the Lord working on the inside of you?

2.  Are you lifting spiritual weights for the strengthening of your exciting worship?

Prayer: Father, I am so grateful You are working IN me.  Day after day and year after year I become more pliable in Your hands because You are working in me.  Thank You for not giving up on me, Lord.  Amen.