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2021Q3 God Works in You
Quarterly exhortation, Q3 2021
This quarter we will begin recommending spiritual thoughts from the bible for us all to meditate upon. Not an entire verse or passage to memorize. Just a simple, powerful thought from which we can derive strength and understanding. This quarter’s thought comes from Philippians 2:13 – God Works In You.
This verse contains a good example of an inspired writer saying something in passing, communicating a truth that might not strike us with only a quick read-through.
The people in Philippi shared common concepts about ‘gods’ as the people of Athens did. While in Athens, Paul declared the nature of the true and living God. In so doing he revealed their faulty concepts about serving deity. Their gods were represented by images and resided in magnificent temples. Both the images and temples were made with the worshiper’s own hands (Acts 17).
Responding to what he saw, Paul made this magnificent statement:
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things (Acts 17:24-25)
The ancients imagined their gods as having specific needs so they acted to provide those needs. As Christians we too render our service and obedience, but unto the true and living God. However we recognize that our service is not as if He ‘needs anything’. He doesn’t.
Our service to God provides us with our own needs. How? Through our diligent efforts to learn God’s will, and then by living our lives in imitation of Jesus the Christ. As Christians we serve Him by reflecting His attributes in our own lives: love, goodness, patience, mercy, forgiveness and grace. And this service is all to our benefit and those we have to do with. What an incredible contrast! No wonder the Greek gods became relegated to the myth bin.
Think about this from time to time over this quarter. Our work is for God to work in us.
Is God working in you?
Ron
