In review of Philippians 2:13, Paul tells me that “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (NLT).
In Philippians 2, Paul tells me that I need to work hard to show the results of my salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in me, giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do things without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize me. Live a clean, innocent life as his child, shining like a bright light in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
No matter what I’m going to face in the coming weeks, I won’t face it alone. God is with, in, and for me.
Philippians 2:13 says, “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (NLT).
The word “working” in Greek is the word energos, from which we get our word “energy.” This means that God is the energy driver in my life. I’m not just going on willpower. I’m not just going on my own power. God says he will give me the power I need, no matter what I’m facing.
Not only is he in me, he also is with me. The Bible says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you . . . On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:18, 20 NIV). This is quite a promise! The Bible reminds me that Christ is in me, and that I’m sheltered with Christ, and that I’m sealed with the Holy Spirit. That means for the Enemy to get to me, he’s got to get through the Trinity! That’s a pretty good protection. That is a great fear reliever.
Not only is God with and in me, God is also for me. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, no one can defeat us” (NCV).
When a shepherd leads the sheep, guard dogs stay at the back, nipping at the sheep to keep them moving in the right direction.
The Bible says that the guard dogs in my life are God’s goodness and mercy. God gives me the things I don’t deserve, his goodness. And he doesn’t give me the things I do deserve, that’s his mercy.
I can get up every morning and say, “God, thank you that you’re going to be with me today, you’re going to be in me today, and you’re going to be for me today.”
Isn’t that great news? God is with, in and for me.
In summary, God is working in me, giving me the desire, and the power to do what pleases him. Paul reminds me that I need to work hard to show the results of my salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. I need to do things without complaining or arguing, so that no one can criticize me. I need to live a clean, innocent life as his child, shining like a bright light in a world full of crooked and perverse people. I'm not left to go on my own power, rather he says he will give me the power I need, no matter what I'm facing for he is the energy driver in my life. I'm reminded in his Word that I'm sheltered with Christ, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. For the enemy to get to me, he's got to get through the Trinity. God gives me the things I don't deserve - his goodness. He doesn't give me the things I do deserve - that's his mercy. I can say each day, God, thank you that you're going to be with me today, that you'll be in me and you'll be for me.
Father, thank you for the reminder that you are at my side working in and protecting me. I need to do my part and live out the salvation you’ve given me. You give me the power to life and the protection I need. I pray this morning Father that I live in light of your presence in, with, and for me. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day. Help me be of service to others today and display Christ’s character in what I do. I pray these things in your Son Jesus name, Amen.
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