"His Working, Our Works"

"His Working, Our Works"

   The Christian life involves works.  But not our own.

   "He that hath entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own labors, as God did from His" (Hebrews 4:10).

   "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

   "I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily" (Colossians 1:29).

   When the first man Adam sinned by responding to Satan's temptation to "be as gods", the human race entered into the delusion and illusion of seeking to live according to our own works (Genesis 3:5).  In real terms, we possess no such capacity.   We can scratch out an existence to one degree or another during our earthly lifetime.  However, this does not constitute life, according to God's definition.  "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

    Conversely, we can follow the path paved by the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly lifetime.  

    "I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. I can of mine own self do nothing" (John 5:19; 30).

    "The Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works" (John 14:10).

    Those who trust the Lord Jesus seek to live according to His pattern of looking to Another for life and enabling.   "We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).  Before our Savior died for us, He showed what it means to live as a human being in accordance with truth and reality.  The Lord Jesus did not relinquish His deity when He became human.  However, He did not live by the capacities of His own Divine nature. He rather trusted in His Father's wisdom and enabling, as revealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.  He worked, but the works originated in His Father.  Moreover, our Lord truly lived because He trusted in Heavenly enabling to live an earthly life.  This alone constitutes genuine life that produces abiding works, as empowered by God.  The Apostle Paul prayed accordingly, that the Colossians believers might be "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power" (Colossians 1:11).  We do well to pray that same for each other and for ourselves so that we might "work the works of God" (John 6:28)

"To live is Christ."

(Philippians 1:21)

Weekly Memory Verse

   As for God, His way is perfect.

(II Samuel 22:31)

   

    

    

   

   

   

   

    

    

    

    

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