PHILIPPIANS 2:11-16 – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

THEME OF THE DAY. GRACE IS AT WORK – ALL THE TIME. Sensitive Christians will experience times of discouragement over their perceived lack of growth in grace. When evaluating themselves, they lament over seeing so little of Christ’s character being developed in their lives. They may even listen to the lies of the devil whispering things like, “You are a Christian? Right. Look at your sins. Look at your near constant failings. Fruit of the Spirit? Not in you.” And if we don’t understand God’s work of grace in us, we will listen and become a defeated Christian.

In today’s scripture is a good word from the Apostle Paul about God’s work of grace in our lives. It will encourage and strengthen us when we think no spiritual growth is happening in us. In this section of God’s Word, we find the exhortation to “work out our salvation” and that simply means, “Live the Christian life. Strive to obey God’s Word.” Make sure we see the difference. Paul is not telling us to “work for your salvation” but “work out your salvation.” And then comes the truth of what is always behind our efforts of “working out our salvation” – God’s grace at work. Right after the exhortation to “do” the Christian life, we are immediately told “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Now pay attention to God’s action. He works. It is a present tense continuing verb which means “God’s work in us is a constant work that never ceases whether we are aware of it or not.” This is a great encouragement when our condemning conscience and accusing devil strive to convince us no work of grace is happening in our lives. And what this means is in those “dull” times in our walks with the Lord; those “dry seasons” when the Bible doesn’t feel alive and prayer is more mechanical than relational, God is still at work in our lives. Some of the greatest and deepest work of grace in our hearts will occur during those seasons. Why? Because we will still obey God despite our feelings. We will still read our Bibles despite the dryness. And we will still pray even when it feels like our prayers never reach the ceiling of the room. All those disciplines done despite feelings are done in faith and that is precisely what the God of grace is doing – working grace in us. All the time.

So, when we sense no spiritual growth, stop and remember. The God of all grace is the God constantly working grace in us. Rest in this truth by faith and we will see more and more His grace at work in our lives.

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You that Your grace works in my life all the time – even when I don’t sense it.”

QUOTE: “The God of all grace is the God who works His grace – all the time in the lives of His children.”