God at Work
Thursday, February 19, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Dear God, I thank you for your Word. I thank you that it "measures" me and sees how I am doing with the requirements you have for me. I know Lord that you want me to be blameless and clean. I admit that I am not always pure in everything, so I humbly ask for your forgiveness. I want to be just like Jesus. Help me to continue to abide in your Word so that I may be holy. I praise and adore you, and ask that you would grant me the grace to honor you this day. I ask this all in your 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
What does it mean to live a "clean" life as a child of God?
If all of us have sinned, how can we live "innocent" as a child of God? Explain.
According to these verses, are people in this world "good"?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
Do we naturally have the desire to do what pleases God?
Is it your desire to have God's desire for your life? Why?
Is it possible to please God by our own strength?
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
If God's Word (the Bible) is our "measuring tape," how do we know if we are pleasing God unless we read it?
If God is at work in us, will he give us the desire to spend time with him if we ask?
Would God desire us to be innocent, clean, and blameless if it were not possible? How then can this happen?
Applying God's Word to Our Purpose
In the last week, how many days did you read your Bible? If not, why?
If you do not already have a "quiet time" with the Lord scheduled today, what is one time and place that you could read your Bible and pray for at least 10 minutes?
Thoughts
When a builder goes to a construction site, one of the most important tools that they can bring along with them (other than their helmet) is a measuring tape. In order to take the dimensions off a blueprint drawing and convert them to the building project, a measuring tape is necessary. A building must be built to precision if it is going to stand. And in order to make everything precise, the builder will need to make sure every piece of wood, every girder, every steel beam, and any other piece of material "measures up" to specifications within the blueprint. If it doesn't measure up, the building will not be what the architect designed it to be.
As we have mentioned over the last couple of days, God is both the architect and builder of our lives. He has been, and continues to work on our lives to complete the project. But God demands precision in his construction -- we call this holiness. In Philippians 2:13-15 we read that God's desire is that we may be blameless and clean. Friends, that is precision! He wants us to be measured up to all his specifications that are found in the Word of God. The Bible is indeed our "measuring tape" -- for it keeps our thoughts, words, and actions in alignment with the holiness that God demands. As you go throughout this day, spend time in God's word. And if you find a verse that reveals an area where you haven't "measured up" -- ask the Lord to give you the grace to "cut" that thing out of your life.