For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

2:13   for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The believer works (vs 12) and God works.

We work with fear and trembling, and God works in us, both to want and work for His good pleasure. A lot of work is being discussed here!

A few posts back, I mentioned the Divine Human Cooperative. Of course this concept is not original with me, for I was introduced to it decades ago, and though I have lost some memory as I am aging, this phrase stuck with me. The idea that Jesus works with me, or maybe better said, that I am to work with Jesus in appealing for others to receive the grace of God, this concept or teaching simply amazes me.

The typical believer, (for I consider myself almost typical) looks to the Lord as the Master, the Lord, the Supreme Authority, and this is correct. This is the gospel, to know and understand that He is God and the Lord, and to bring our lives into conformance with His character and will.

But understand that the Word speaks of us as participating in the relationship with God, that we have a part to play in His drama, that we are not alone in this struggle, and not simply passive participants in the life He has for us.

As many who follow this blog know I am an engineer, and as a lead engineer on a project, I am responsible to get plan packages out to my clients on time and under budget. Today was a deadline and as I loaded up my designers with final edits, I was informed of a set of standards that had not been updated. With previous tasks already handed out, it was impossible for my folks to get the additional task done. So for a couple hours, I reverted back to a draftsman (albeit on the computer) and worked the standards to the present need.

Could I have derided my team, forced them to stay, caused them unnecessary stress? I could have and been strictly within my position within the firm. Instead I worked with my team to get a product out. And had a few laughs!

God has a plan that He will deliver and we are His “team”, albeit with inabilities, inhibitions, and insecurities, we work to please Him, and yet we fall behind, fail Him and fumble the ball on the one yard line. Brothers and sisters, do not think it all depends on you, for He is a loving God, that works in you and with you in getting us across the finish line.

He works with us by not only working in us, giving us the desire and will to work with Him, but also outside of us, in orchestrating our circumstances, bringing people into our lives, providing safety from evils, and granting us the strength to bless others, and not simply ourselves.

He is a big God, and worthy to follow, and as we follow, we are never alone, never abandoned, never forsaken.

Praise Him name for He is good!

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