Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. —Philippians 2:12-13 (Amplified Version)

When I first read this scripture, I thought, “Oh great! Another thing to add to my seemingly ever growing list of to do’s. Right after laundry, I will add work out my salvation with reverence and awe and trembling.” I sat there for a while as I thought of the many things that are on my plate. Then I realized with a BIG sigh of relief that God is not a performance-based God. He is not sitting up on the throne keeping track of my mistakes. God is waiting for us to come to Him to ask for forgiveness for our mistakes and to ask Him to help us live our lives so we become more and more like Christ each day.

My performance won’t make God love me any more or less than He already does. The performance that God’s love is based upon is that of Jesus’ death on the cross. I cannot do enough good things to make God love me because He loved me and knew me before I was born. David declares in Psalm 139:13, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

God already loves us more than we can ever imagine. I am Daddy’s little girl. I am His princess. The King of Kings loves us more than we can imagine. He gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to help us live out our lives. Through God’s Spirit, I will grow to desire to please God. And I will become more like Christ on a daily basis as I follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. The coolest thing about the verse from Philippians is not only will He give me the desire to please Him, but He will also give me the power to do so.

Isn’t our daddy awesome?

Copyright © by Stephanie Gulland Share