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Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Isaiah 28-29
Philippians 2:12-30

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Philippians 2:12-13 (CSB): “Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

To the Bible reader who seriously considers what they are reading, Philippians 2:12-13 can leave us scratching our heads with a perplexed look on our face. The two verses seem not merely to contrast but also to contradict what the other is stating.

Since we are convinced of the divine authority of the Bible, we cannot believe that there are any contradictions. But what are we to make of these two verses?

Philippians 2:12 tells us that WE have a responsibility to take the work of salvation that God has applied to the heart of every believer and “work it out,” make that private, internal work visible in our out lives in what we say, where we go, what we do, etc.

But Philippians 2:13 tells us that GOD has the responsibility to take the work of salvation and apply it to all areas of our lives since it is He, not us, who “is working in (us) but to will and to work according to his good purpose.” So, if we want to pursue Him, that’s God who did that. If we actually make good on achieving varying degrees of godliness, that God that did that.

So, who is responsible for us becoming more like Jesus? God? or Us?

The answer is … (drum roll) … IT’S BOTH! God works in us as we respond in obedience to Him.

In other words, if we aren’t becoming more like Jesus, we have no excuses. God is committed to changing our wills and our behaviors. We are called to participate in what God is already doing by resolving to take the work of salvation inside of us and “working it out” until others can also see Jesus in us.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to enable you to understand just how committed He is to you becoming more like Jesus.
  • Ask God to help you cultivate a personal commitment to join Him in what He’s doing in your life.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into Philippians 2:12-13, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What does it mean to work out salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)