WE
MUST WORK WITH GOD
Work
out your salvation with fear and trembling,
Phil
2.12
Our
Creator, our God, our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit loves us.
He
is completely committed to our good, to our welfare, in everything we
do, say, think, feel, and desire.
He
has begun a good work in us and will work good in us and for us until
the day we meet Jesus.
He
Who has begun a
good work in you
will
carry it on to completion
until
the day of Christ Jesus.
Phil
1.6.
God
works in us to will and act
according
to His good purpose.
Phil
2.13
We
must work with Him for this to happen, though.
Work
out your salvation with fear and trembling...
Phil.
2.12
Our
God has told us many things that He has in mind for us, many good
things that He wants to develop in our lives, in our heart, mind,
soul, and body.
In
the prayer of 1.9-12 there are the following:
love,
knowledge, insight,
discernment
of what is best,
purity,
blamelessness,
and
the fruit of righteousness.
In
the midst of suffering and struggle (like in 1.12-30), there are:
speaking
the word if God fearlessly (1.14)
encouraging
others in their progress and joy (1.25-26)
standing
firm in one spirit for the faith of the Gospel (1.27)
And
then in 2.1 there are:
encouragement
from being united with Christ
comfort
from His love
fellowship
with the Spirit
tenderness
and compassion
Then
there are special notes in chapters 3.7-14 and 4.4-9.
All
this just in Philippians. And all the writings of Scripture are
similarly filled with characteristics and qualities God wants for us.
He
works with us and in us to achieve all this in “more and more”
ways, means, and occasions--always better, always improving, always
toward “the best.”
Teaching,
showing, explaining, correcting, directing, counseling, watching—our
God works at perfecting us and our faith, day and night, every
thought and word under His exacting scrutiny and gentle loving
kindness.
But
for any of this to happen, we must set aside time to focus on these
attributes of godliness, one at a time, day in and day out.
These
qualities are what we are to spend time working on with God.
These
qualities are what we work on when we spend time with God.
To
“abide with Christ” is “to spend time with Christ” time
working with Him on His goals for us.
In
this time with Christ, we are to ask for, seek, and follow the
leadership of the Holy Spirit for “the good things” God is
wanting to develop in us.
WE
MUST WORK
MORE
AND MORE...
UNTIL
THE DAY OF CHRIST.
PHIL
1.6, 11
