To Will and To Work for His Pleasure

"For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13)" is one of the most awesome declarations of the Christian life.  When we get home from this life and our eyes are opened, we will see how much and how many times God influenced our decisions and them provided the power to complete the task.  It always reminds me of when I flip on a light switch and the electric company provides the power which makes the light shine.  I turned on the lights but depended on the power to make it happen. 

The interesting thing is that the beginning of that verse is the call to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling."  When we hit verses that don't seem consistent with what we usually think, (in this case that salvation rests on the fact that Jesus has paid it all), it is an opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit to give understanding.  

The theme of Phil 2 is to have the mind of Christ, which is to "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves."  Then Paul further suggests that we "have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, namely to humble ourselves by obedience even if it costs us everything.  The obvious question is how can we do that?  

As a born-again Christian, the Holy Spirit gives life to our spirit, and He literally dwells in us.  John 14 would suggest that the Father and Jesus also make their home in us.  So, since God Himself dwells in us, we have the same power that raised Christ from the dead giving life to our mortal bodies.  Ephesians 1 describes this as "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe." It is by this power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to submit to Jesus as Lord, or owner and boss of our lives. 

However, we are also made in the image and likeness of God which means that we have free will.  There is a reason why Scripture has statements like "Choose this day whom you will serve," or "whosoever will," or "I set before you, life and death, choose life."   God can do in and through us only what we choose.  

Therefore, going back to our Philippians 2:12 verse, we need an attitude of "fear and trembling" or fear of the Lord that we willingly choose to obey the promptings of the Spirit.  When we submit to what He wills, He gives the power to do it, which, of course, give God pleasure.  Jesus clearly paid for it all, and His words "It is finished" establishes His total redemption forever.  However, to let this salvation have its complete work in us, we need to agree with His thoughts and ways by obeying His will. 

Start fresh today in His mercies which are new this morning, and simply obey the Spirit's leadings.  As you yield your will to His will, God's power is released to work and you will accomplish your purpose, which is to give Him pleasure.  All things were created according to Revelation 4 for His pleasure.  It follows that when God wills and works in us, we will "shine as lights in the world" (Phil 2:15). 

What Do You See?

   You can see with physical eyes and/or with spiritual eyes.  So the question is, what do you see?  Jesus said that if the eye be single the whole body is good.  What is getting your attention right now, what are you focusing on?  One enjoyable way to begin the day with the Lord is to read a psalm, because it shifts one's attention from self to focus on the Lord and His truth.  David was, after all, a man after God's own heart.  The Word is spirit and truth, so it opens our spiritual eyes to see beyond the physical circumstances. 

  Worship songs that speak of God's glory and holiness likewise allow our imagination to soar beyond natural boundaries.  We receive this truth in our spirit, rather than figure it out with our understanding.  Once we see God, then we can realize how blessed we are to know Him and to be loved by One who loves us so much that He willingly gave His life for us.  This awesome love that forgives us, also has made us a new creation sharing His infinite life and goodness. There is a worship song that has the line, "All my life You have been faithful, all my life You have been so, so good."  Songs of praise help us picture and dwell on all the great things God has done in our lives, and all the things that we richly enjoy. 

 Our thoughts and imaginations are important to God.  As a man thinks, so is he.  In Isaiah 26:1, the verse contains a strong encouragement to focus on Him, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee."  The Hebrew word for "mind" is the same word used other places in Scripture for "imagination," like before the flood in Genesis 6:5 where God saw "every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil continually."  Likewise in Psalm 2 it says, "why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?"  Therefore, God promises peace if we keep the imaginations of our heart on His goodness and who He is, rather than continually entertaining the negative thoughts and emotions that the world demands. 

  Furthermore, in Psalm 1 the word that encourages us to meditate, "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law does he meditate day and night...whatsoever he does shall prosper, " this word "meditate" is the exact same Hebrew word used in Isaiah 26, Psalm 2, and Genesis 6. for imagine.  In short, meditation is simply choosing to see with your imagination, to focus on and let dwell in you richly, God's thoughts.  

  Therefore, the concluding question is "What are you looking at as you approach life today?"  Are your thoughts and emotions dictated by what your physical eyes perceive, or are you rather consumed by the awesome love and goodness of the living God who lives in you and strengthens you?  Is your heart filled with thanksgiving because you know He is working for good all things and completing the good work in you to transform you from glory to glory?  Do you see Jesus and His truth enlightening everything you do?  

Fill your imagination and mind with His thoughts and how you might please Him.  Let this vision dominate your words and actions.  See yourself as a gift from God, accomplishing your tasks today through His help, and living for Him and His pleasure forever.  In short, in everything, see Jesus!

"Pretty Please God?"

"Pretty please, God, would you make this go away?" or "I promise to change or do some generous deed if you do this for me"  Have you ever begged God or tried to manipulate God for something? Did it work?  What is wrong with this whole picture?

Let's start with the beginning.  God loves us and is pleased to give us the kingdom.  He delights in mercy and meeting the needs of his children.  He has promised to not give a stone to the child who asks for bread.  Hasn't He already given us the most precious treasure He has, in His own Son?  So how can we doubt His heart toward us in wanting to give to us all we need to have abundant life.

Secondly, there is an eternal principle in which God is not mocked, namely what a man sows is what he shall reap.  All through history God has always weighed men's hearts and responded strongly to help and defend those who honor Him.  God gives grace to the humble.  2 Chronicles 16:9 further declares that God is looking for an opportunity to show His power in behalf of the person whose heart is right toward Him.  In simple words, our attitude and actions always make a difference to God, leading to positive or negative consequences.

Thirdly, faith is not something you drum up just when you need it.  Faith is an eternal quality that starts with admitting we have sinned and accepting that Jesus paid it all for you through His death on the cross.  In response to this honest transaction, the life of God, Jesus Christ Himself, takes up permanent residence in our hearts and being. Then each time we read and allow the truth of God's Word to soak into our thinking and hearts, it grows.  Faith is defined as a "conviction" or "assurance" so it requires time of reflection and acceptance to become established in the "knower" part of our inner man.  And every time we choose a right attitude in a difficult situation we likewise grow according to James 1:2-5.  This invisible but clearly tangible quality, faith, is meant to be "ever increasing" and to grow as a plant that proceeds from seed to germination to blade to flower to fruit according to the parable Jesus explained.  Faith is a real spiritual quality and quantity that silently permeates all we think and do, and is not just how we feel at the moment of trial.

The point is that God has a plan for each of us to grow into the image of Jesus Christ, and He has sent His Spirit to make sure we have every opportunity to do that.  He not only wants us to be whole in spirit, soul, and body, but also "He who calls you is faithful and He will do it." (1 Thess 5:24)  So God, who is in us and on our side, is ready to help to change us.  All we have to do is be faithful in the little things such as starting the day with Jesus, reading the Word, asking forgiveness when we fail, and obeying the Spirit as He leads us.  Without even realizing it, our faith will be increasing and getting stronger through every trial and victory we experience.  Then in the day of trial, to our great amazement, our faith will be sufficient to overcome and bring us to a place where thanksgivings will overflow to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:7-15).  You never need to beg or manipulate God again.

Who Appreciates You?

In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown asks Linus, "If you work really hard and get all the things that you want, is it worth it?"  Snoopy, overhearing the conversation, says, "Not if you don't have a dog that loves you."

Somehow Snoopy captures the reality that having someone who loves you and appreciates you is of greater importance.  When it is all said and done, who loves you and takes pleasure in you?  This may sound trite, but no one on earth has that kind of appreciation or understanding of all you go through.  There is only one, the Man Jesus Christ, who knows our every thought, emotion, and effort.  He also happens to be a little like Snoopy, who dances with joy when he sees you.  Zephaniah 3 states that God "rejoices over you with singing."

The obvious problem is that many of us do not know God or Jesus in that way.  We live day to day doing work, putting up with situations, handling family matters, overcoming life's challenges and trials, and when we are through with the busy-ness, take a few minutes to relax and be entertained by TV or movies or Internet sites.  It is possible to go through all the motions, be a "good" normal person, and never enjoy the pleasure of knowing Someone loves and appreciates who we are. 

Do you remember the scene in Chariots of Fire when Eric Liddell explains to his sister that when he runs he "feels God's pleasure."  Instead of that being an experience that only special people have at extraordinary times, we suggest that the basic purpose of life, "to know, serve and enjoy God," declares that those who know their God will walk in this awareness daily. 

So stop right now.  Close you eyes, look up and smile.  Say to Jesus, "are you rejoicing and singing over me right now?"  Can you see Him dancing for joy over you?  Maybe this whole concept is strange to you, yet is life worth it if you don't know the pleasure of the One who made you?

Something needs to change in our hearts and it begins with us realizing we need to know Him and that we are of infinite value to Him.  Ephesians 1:17 is a prayer worth saying everyday, "that the Father of Glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would give to 'me' a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him."


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