Nov 05

The truth that it is God alone who causes growth in his kingdom, and not we who labor in his fields, has even deeper meaning than what has been already said. For not only are our deeds not really our own but his, even the motivation of the heart to perform these deeds springs from him and not from us.

Philippians 2:12 urges us to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling -- to make the truths we know from God's Word active and alive in our lives, like an athlete working out in a gym, working hard to improve the body of Christ. That is our part.

But the next verse, verse 13, makes it clear that even this desire to labor for the Lord is notwork up within ourselves; this too comes from the Lord:

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

Our good deeds and labor for the Lord do not suddenly spring up all by themselves in our lives; they spring up from hearts submitted to the Lord, hearts that love the Lord Jesus and want to please him in the deeds of everyday life.

Even the source of our deeds, the inner desires of the heart, come from the Lord and not from ourselves. That is what it means to give one's heart to the Lord: so that heart will no longer be one's own but the Lord's, and then he can do his works in the kingdom--works that find their source not in human desire for accomplishment and praise from men and satisfaction of the human soul, but works that spring from God himself and are done for him alone.

Scripture for today: Phil. 2:12, 13
Thought for today: Even the motivation for serving God must come from God.
Prayer for today: Lord, give me, I pray, a heart that is right before you, one that wants to serve you out of love for you and those I serve, not a heart that seeks satisfaction in the enjoyment of serving itself.

NOV 05