For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13 AMP
The Context and Focus:
In a world that is increasingly seeking to claim independence and strength away from God, the words of today's verse are fundamental to the understanding of what true strength is. When an assignment is carried out well, and people can testify to the quality of work done, how much of it can be directly attributed to the personal profile of the person doing the work? How do I define the scope of the spiritual, the physical, and the emotional or psychological? In order to determine who is the audience for today's verse, it is important to consider the verses before the one above, and you read about people who have received encouragement and comfort in Christ, consolation of His love, as well as fellowship in the Spirit. Note that Christ is the focus of the whole conversation. He is the One who holds all the pieces together. The world seeks to celebrate human endeavours, but while that is not a problem on its own, the discussion is not complete without the influence and input of God, who makes all things possible. Is there anyone who could create a human being who will have all the natural parts a person has, with its own will, emotions and decision process?
The Message:
As long as man cannot create himself, he is limited in scope, impact or influence outside of the One who formed him. You cannot take a thing out of its natural habitat and expect it to thrive and survive. You cannot place a demand on a man without God's grace or help and expect such a man to have eternal value. Yes, the world may know, celebrate and even applaud him, but at the end, there is no eternal gain outside of the One who gives eternal life. Whatever it is a man may acquire or achieve, the correct foundation is one with an understanding and appreciation of the work of God in that man's life. God is at work, first IN me, before the impact of his work IN me can then be made manifest in my work FOR him. God has to first impact my heart, before he can impact my hands. Of what use is working hard, if God is not the one directing the work? What reward can God give to a work that He is not involved with at any point? Do I really want to work hard only, and have no backing or support from God, or would I simply rely on the One who commissions and sends one on assignment? Who is the One defining my current assignment: myself or God Himself?
The Conclusion:
As I seek to work for God, would I solely depend on Him to tell me what to do, where to do it, and how to do it, or would I seek personal glory for a work whose origin and purpose I do not yet know? God knows what the work entails for this current generation, and he knows what gifts and endowments will help the work. The work did not start with me, and as long as the return of Jesus tarries, the work will not end with me. Through total surrender to Jesus, the desire and the will to work for God is birthed in me. The longing to please God is only possible when God is in control of my heart, and he will then provide all I need to fulfil the purpose He has defined for me, which will give him great pleasure. Nothing excites God more than a surrendered vessel, because He knows that there is no limit to what He can achieve with such a vessel. He is able to provide both the desire and the capacity to do His work, because all the glory has to be returned to Him. If I seek glory for myself, it will only end up in shame. I seek to glorify God in all I do, so that my life can be the platform for the display of His splendour. What of you? God's time of favour is here.
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