WHAT'S GOING ON?

Scripture reading - Phil 2:12-13

MESSAGE “What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God Himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure”

Is it a good thing to ask, “What is God doing in your life?” Is this a proper question or is it based on some subjective idea? Does God really work in our lives? If He does, what does He do there?

Paul issued quite the challenge in the aforementioned verse, “Work out your own salvation…” What did Paul mean by that? This does not refer to salvation from sin

The meaning is keep working out – developing to the fullest your own salvation – the implications of your salvation. We must be careful about how we believe and live. Our focus must be on Jesus

What attitude should accompany this challenge? “…with fear and trembling…” This means with awe and humility. Why should we have this attitude? The very fact that God has saved us should produce awe! The very fact that it is God who saved us should produce humility. The enormous implications of salvation should produce both awe and humility in us.

We have quite a reassuring reason to do this: “It is God that worketh in you…” Think about it...God does work in us! We are not required to “go it alone”. God wants to come along side us and be within us to help us. God works in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God uses various means in His work in us. For example He will use the Bible, our brothers and sisters even circumstances.

God doesn’t act instead of us – rather He works in us. God doesn’t compel or force us against our will. Our resistance slows or even suspends His work in us. Our resistance always costs us something

There's a powerful purpose involved: “…both to will and to do of His own good pleasure”. God always has a purpose for what He does in us. That purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son. To be more like Jesus we must condition ourselves to think Like Jesus.

What does God do in us? He brings conviction of sin. He helps us see our need of repentance. He enables us to overcome sin. He strengthens us to break with evil influences. He challenges us to give up our evil thoughts. He motivates us to live different lives. He enlightens our minds with truth. He builds our character. He strengthens our relationship with Him. He makes us like He would have us to be. God’s working in us is always in support of His purposes and in accord with His will as revealed in His Word. God’s purposes for us are always good. God takes a long-range view of good – He sees the big picture!

It is a valid question to ask What is God doing in your life? What’s God doing in your life right now? God is continually working in us so that the implications of salvation can be fully developed in us. Are you allowing Him to do His work in you or are you resisting His work in your life? The more you cooperate the less time it will take. We aught to approach God’s working in us with awe and humility.

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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