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About-Him.Com Devotional 01-12-2008
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To Work or Not To Work?

God started His work in all of us, a long time ago. Actually it was before time began. He knew our names and He wrote them down in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 13:8, 17:8; II Thessalonians 3:4-5 ). He knew us while we were still in our mother’s wombs (Psalms 139:16).  

Ps 139:16  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.  


He saw us then and decided that He wanted us as His jewels (Malachi 3:17). He allowed us the privilege to hear the message of the cross and gave us grace that enabled us to respond to it (Romans 8:28-30). We were dead in our sins and He by His will quickened and made us alive in Christ Jesus. It wasn’t by any good thing that we had done, it was solely because of His mercy. He renewed us by His Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:5-10, Titus 3:4-5).  

While we didn’t do anything to earn salvation, a natural by product of our new life in Jesus is to allow Him to work through us. We are new creatures (II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:18),and we sit in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2:6). Our old man died to sin and we were made alive in Jesus. As the apostle Paul stated so well:  

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  


While we didn’t earn salvation, we are still expected to have good works that are a result of Christ living in us. We remember the parables in the gospels of the pounds (Matthew 25:14-30) and talents (Luke 19:11-27 ). The Master in each case had entrusted his wealth with his servants while he was away. Those who extended an effort as small as putting it in the bank to draw interest were rewarded. Those who made no effort at all were severely punished.  

I often hear people say that because Jesus lives in me, it is not necessary for me to extend any effort at all to maintain and enhance my experience with the Lord. The apostle Paul certainly didn’t feel that way when he told the Ephesians to put on the whole armor of God so that they would be able to withstand the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).  

Paul gave the Colossians a list of things to do; they should put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of their Creator (Colossians 3:10). They were also to put on bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, long suffering and charity (Colossians 3:12,14). These are things that require work or effort and yet we cannot do them without the enabling power of God’s Spirit.We are expected to expend some human effort as well. Ephesians 4:22 tells us to put away our former corrupt and deceitful way of living. This too requires us to cooperate with the Spirit that lives in us. When we do so, something begins to happen. Jesus begins to live His life through us and will continue as long as we let Him do so.  

Philippians  1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:  


As we said above, The Lord knew and called us in eternity past for a purpose, which is to shine as lights in the world,  holding forth the word of life in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (Philippians 2:15). Jesus told us that we were the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) and that we were to let our light so shine that men would see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). If we extend some effort, His light, His Love, His Mercy, and all the attributes of His Being will be demonstrated by us to a lost and dying world.  

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.  

Ephesians  2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
 

Many times we are frustrated in the work of the gospel and wonder if we have accomplished  anything for the kingdom of God at all. Perhaps we should just rephrase our thought and ask, “Just how much have I allowed Him to work in me.” There’s a big, big difference. To sum it up, “if we do a little work on our part, God will do the big work and accomplish His will and purpose in our lives and ministry.  

Hebrews 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  

1Thesolonians  5:24 Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].  

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  

Philippians  1:10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 


Somebody Has Said
  "God, having placed good and evil in our power, has given us full freedom of choice; He does not keep back the unwilling, but embraces the willing."  - John Chrysostom   

Free Ebooks That You Can Download.

An Expository Study on the Book of Colossians  

The I AMs of Jesus   


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Don and Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries


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