Get in there with God
Philippians 2:13-16
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.”
Paul says the human responsibility (v.12) is to “work it out” or bring your salvation to full maturity; demonstrate it in daily living. But he adds that the responsibility of God is to make you want to do it and to make you able to do it. It is not, as some have said, “let go and let God” but “get in there with God.” Henry Blacaby described it as finding out what God is doing and join Him in it. He says when God reveals his will to you that is your invitation to join him.
However, knowing the human kind, he warns us not to do it with murmuring or disputing. In the Greek language this is one of those words which sounds like its meaning (mur-mur-mur-mur). It is like complaining under you breath. Disputings is murmuring only louder and affecting others.
Christians are to become (it is a process) blameless (free from accusation), and harmless. In this use it means not diluted or watered down. So stop complaining. You are a Christian. Live like it, or rather, live like Him. Some of the process of making us like Christ, will tempt you to murmur and complain. But we are only joining God in what He is doing. And He will give us the desire and the ability to do all He calls us to do.
The reason is that God wants the living proof right out there among them. He wants this crooked and perverse nation to see us living with Christ. And don’t worry, He wants them to see that He is making us able. Because they can’t change or fix their life either. They will need His grace and help. Paul says we are to shine as lights before them. It is not our light but the light of Christ reflected through our lives. He wants the perishing world to see how the true sons of God have victory and joy in Christ, so when we hold out the “word of life” they will desire what they see in us.
They need to see God blessing us, not rebuking us. It is not so much bad sin in our life, as it is casual and careless living, so that our light does shine. Our life can become dirty and not be reflecting Christ. As one man said, the unchurched do not attend church because of those who do. If they see us living like they do it is hard for them to believe that our God can change anything. But if they see us joining God in what He is doing, living like Him, with joy and victory, they will believe God can do anything. That will be revival. But perhaps the judgment most applicable to us is “Ye have not because ye ask not.” We must join Him. This nation needs revival, but we are the ones who need revived. The unsaved are without hope unless we are revived, the believers, the church. The human part is to work it out so others can see. God’s part is to strengthen our will and make us able.