Daily Devotions
Philippians
"For it is God who works in you..."
Text: Philippians 2:13
WE ARE NOT ALONE
How wonderful it is to know that we are not alone when we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling!” The following text brings great encouragement to our heart!
“For it is God who works in you
both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”Philippians 2:13
1. “For”
a) This is a simple connective particle.
b) It links Verses 12 and 13 together.
The subject link is “working out our salvation”.
2. “For it is God who works in you”
a) The first part is the individual who needs to demonstrate that he is indeed truly saved.
b) This is the connecting second part.
i) God works alongside.
ii) He helps us demonstrate the reality of our salvation in Christ.
c) God’s work is described using a participle (Greek… Present active participle).
i) The present tense expresses an on-going work.
ii) The verbal idea is also very strong, suggesting that God is working actively in the believer.
3. What does God do?
a) Both to will.
i) He creates within us a desire to work out our salvation.
ii) He motivates us to do something about our salvation.
b) And to do.
i) Motivation is only the first part.
ii) Actual work is the necessary follow-up.
c) A special grammatical note.
i) Paul used the Present Infinite to describe God’s work in us (To will and to do).
ii) This is an encouraging thought for it tells us that God will “continue” to do this work.
d) Why would God do this for us?
In a word- “for His good pleasure.” He is happy to do this on our behalf. There is no ulterior motive!