“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
Philippians 2:13
Where I live on the west coast, certain fishing styles for bringing in large tuna have evolved over the years. Since these tuna can reach hundreds of pounds in adulthood, they are much stronger than a person is, and a tug.of-war match simply will not work. The angler grows tired and discouraged; oftentimes the fish gets away. The technique I favor is called “rail fighting.” This is where the angler will leverage his fishing rod against the boat’s rail in order to maximize the amount of pressure he applies on the fish.
A kind of pressure is also applied to our faith when we wrestle with the challenges and battles of life. Paul calls us to work out our salvation with trembling and fear. It’s not a command to simply try harder to grow as believers. That would be like having a tug-of-war with a fish. It’s actually a reminder that as we learn to trust that God applies His resurrection power to our lives, we grow in our ability to strive for obedience. We learn that it is through Him, not through our own power, that success comes.
A kind of pressure is also applied to our faith when we wrestle with the challenges and battles of life. Paul calls us to work out our salvation with trembling and fear. It’s not a command to simply try harder to grow as believers. That would be like having a tug-of-war with a fish. It’s actually a reminder that as we learn to trust that God applies His resurrection power to our lives, we grow in our ability to strive for obedience. We learn that it is through Him, not through our own power, that success comes.
Scripture Focus
Philippians 2:12-15
Insight
As we grapple with holiness, remember that we do it by God’s power and will, which He gives to us by His Spirit.
Bible In A Year
- Ezra 1-2
- Psalm 26
- Mark 5
