God at Work
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit in my life. He has been the "carpenter" in my life to build me into the image of Jesus. Thank you for sending to me the Holy Spirit. Help me this day to please you in all that I do and say. I want to be pure, clean, holy, and blameless in everything. May my light shine for you this day as I rely upon your strength and power that comes through the Holy Spirit. Help me not to complain or argue this day, but to wholly rely upon your grace to resist the devil. Thank you for your love toward me. In Jesus' name. . . Amen.
God's Word Today
Philippians 2:13-15
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey and the power to do what pleases him. In everything you do stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let you lives shine brightly before them."
Reflecting on God's Word
According to Philippians 2:13, how is God working in us?
What are the two things that Paul says to stay away from that keeps us from blame?
What is the difference in behavior between "perverse" people and those who are children of God?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
How does living a "clean" life relate to not arguing and complaining?
According to these verses, what does God ultimately want to build you into?
Is it easy to spot a "blameless" person? How about a "perverse" person? How so?
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
When people look at you, do they see someone who is "blameless?" Is it possible to be blameless in your testimony? What does God want your testimony to be?
Does arguing or complaining please God? Why?
If arguing and complaining directed related to "letting your light shine" -- how bright does your light shine?
Applying God's Word to Our Purpose
Do find that God is at work more in helping you to resist complaining or arguing -- or both?
What is one thing today where you can see God wanting to build into your life and your testimony? How?
Whose power enables you to live blameless?
Thoughts
God has been at work on us since the beginning. He has build us "from the ground" up. But what exactly is he trying to accomplish with us? After all, we want to know what the building will look like when it is finished. In Philippians 2:13-15, it reveals that God wants us to be "blameless", "clean," and "innocent" in our lives. He wants us to let our light will shine brightly before others. Simply put, God wants to make us holy. There is a big word that is often used to describe this process of cleansing called "sanctification" -- whereby God is working in us to be like Jesus. The problem is that we are not always like Jesus in the way we live, as we often make mistakes. Because of this, God sends us his Holy Spirit to give us the power and desire to be more like Jesus.
Without the power of the Holy Spirit working within us, we could not live a life that is "blameless" and "clean." It is not a matter of will power, or your own strength or mental capacities, but rather God power alone. It is not a matter of trying harder, but it is a matter of absolute surrender to God. Every time we try to be blameless, clean, and innocent, we will always fail -- but the Holy Spirit enables us to live this kind of a life. God is building us into the image of Jesus Christ so that we can let our light shine before others. This is what God is working and building us into, and when the house is complete and our lives are through -- we will be like Him. Today God simply wants obedience from us -- let us simply surrender to his will and allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to live as blameless.