Can’t Do It Alone

 

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” –Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

 

“I   can’t   do   it   alone!”  Many   of   us   are   conditioned   to automatically hear that admission as a cry of weakness. As Christians, however, we should recognize its honest value. Indeed, from the beginning we were “sinful at birth” (Ps 51:5), “darkened in [our] understanding and separated from the life of God” (Eph 4:18),” and “powerless” (Rom 5:6) to do anything of godly, eternal value in our own strength (Rom 3:8-20; cf. Isa 34:6; 1 Cor. 2:14). Ouch!

 

The good news is that“because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Eph 2:5). Now, we are no longer“under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), but “able to test and approve what God’s will is” (Rom 12:2). That ability is critical, because in Phil 2:12 Paul urges his “beloved” (i.e., believers in Christ) to “continue to work out [not for!] our own salvation.” Nothing we have, are, or do can earn God’s gift of salvation (e.g., Eph 2:8-9). But once God has saved us, we’re told to “work out” what He has “worked in” us, according to the pattern of Christ’s unselfish humility and sacrificial obedience (Phil 2:5-11).

 

Given the daily battle we wage with our fleshly desires (e.g., Gal 5:16-26; 1 Pet 2:12), it’s profoundly encouraging that God hasn’t left us to“do it alone.” We’d fail miserably! Instead, He “works in you” to bring about two inseparable facets of a God-glorifying life: (1) wanting His good purposes to be realized, and (2) working in alignment with those purposes.

 

God’s  permanent  residence  within  us  (e.g.,  John  14:23; 1 Cor 6:19-20) is an internal combustion engine energizing us to desire and do just what He wants! We couldn’t accomplish our own salvation, but He’s empowering us to accomplish His own purposes. He has the power, the place (“in you”), and the purpose (cf. Heb 13:21). Will you join Him?!

 

For Discussion: Describe a spiritual accomplishment that you can directly attribute to God’s empowerment of your will (desiring) and working (doing). What lessons can be learned from that?

 

Family Activity: Ask the kid(s) to decide on a project they can’t do alone but could accomplish with the whole family’s combined strength. As you do it together, discuss why and how God helps us do what He wants.“I can’t. He can. We will!”