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