“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
“… continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Philippians 2:12a-13
We become more like Jesus in partnership with God. He ignites passion for Jesus, but we must also fan the flame. He initiates the next good work He wants to accomplish in us for our benefit and His glorification, but we must “work it out … with fear and trembling.”
If God is watching and waiting to take advantage of every time our heart opens honestly before Him — longing for every chance to release good gifts to us — then it’s not all up to Him. We must “continue” to come before Him, seek Him, and then follow through on what He instructs.
The next thing God wants you to do is always the best thing for you.
If you don’t follow through on the last thing God asked you to do, you miss out on an incredible opportunity for spiritual growth. If He has presented a lesson to be learned and an action to be taken, and you have not yet stepped out in faith, you will remain at your present state of spiritual growth or even regress.
Feeling guilty? Throw that thought away! Your sins are already covered and paid for. But know that today is your chance to experience the next best thing God has for you. He loves us dearly and He’s used to dealing with slow learners (which is every one of us), so it is not too late.
The Apostle Paul reminded the Philippian Christians what their reward would be:
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
This will be our reward too as we continue to listen, trust, and obey.
Dear Jesus, please help me understand the next thing You want me to do to become more like You, and please give me the courage to respond obediently. Amen.
