"for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" Phil.2:13. This reminder comes just after Paul's admonition for us to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (2:12). Here we have both sides of the salvation coin. There is our work and God's work. Of course God works to draw us to Himself, to bring us to the point of conversion--Jn.6:44; 2Cor.4:4. But then there is the work we are suppose to do, the hard work of obedience, of "letting this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil.2:5). Paul doesn't want any of us to just think that since we "prayed a prayer" we "have our ticket." No we are to work "in fear and trembling" knowing that a tree is known by it's fruit. Our actions are the evidence of our attitude, our conduct reveals our convictions, our behavior reveals our beliefs. So I need to examine my life and ask God to reveal where it is that I'm falling short of living out the full implications of my faith. Paul gives some practical advice in saying that we are to do everything without grumbling. That's a tall order. But as we do our part we are to be confident that God is doing His part. I'm so comforted and encouraged to know that God is at work in me, because I don't always feel that this is true. Be encouraged brothers and sisters, God is at work to accomplish His purposes in us.
Hope you all have a wonderful fourth of July.