God’s Will and My Will: God works in me

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

Let’s gather up a couple of the things we’ve learned about God’s will. First of all, the big picture plan is to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under Christ (Ephesians 1:10). Add to that the fact that all we do must be for the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:12).

Then let’s make certain there is no confusion that the starting point of knowing and doing God’s will is salvation. You have to have Christ in you to be privy to the will of the Father. It is your faith in Jesus that opens up the pages of all the mysteries of God, for it is Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Pretty exciting!

 Working out your salvation then becomes the underlying principle. That is not to say you can possibly work for your salvation: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is to say that salvation is not the end point, but the place to begin.

Working out leads to accomplishment or completion. At its root is to fashion. I love that thought—to me, to fashion is an intimate, hands-on, pleasing-to-the-eye action. Yet it is not up to me. Intimate with God, I let Him fashion my life, and my will—work it out in me first. Then I get to do some fashioning of my own.  

Working out is not to be taken lightly. Fear and trembling are strong words for Paul to use, a sort of quaking-in-your-boots kind of trembling fear. In other words, be in awe of God who has saved you, and be sensitive to what His Spirit is doing inside your spirit, for it is God who works in you. Takes you to your knees, doesn’t it!      

It is God who works in you, fervently, efficiently, effectually, energetically—the Greek word is energeo. Yes, He works in you to always want to energetically, fervently, efficiently, effectually accomplish what His purpose is, what pleases Him. That would be His will! Lord, I truly am taken aback with You. While You expect me to do Your will, You are in me to do it.

Nancy P