Day: November 8, 2012

Willing And Working

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Vance Havner 90x115by Vance Havner

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in your both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12, 13

This combination makes it all the work of God and yet puts us to work. He does the willing and the working. But we “work out what He works in.”

It is a blessed thing to know and to remind ourselves as we move through each day, “God is working in me to will and do of his good pleasure.” But let us remember the other side of it: “I do always those things that please him” (John. 8:29). How few Christians ever think of working out their salvation with fear and trembling in these days of cheap and easy religion! A deep and sober daily concern to please God is the rarest of rarities.

God wills and works, but He moves us to will and work. Our feeble purpose and performance take on real importance when we realize that God is energizing both. The Father hath not left us alone. Therefore we are enabled by Him to do those things that please Him.

by Vance Havner

I Will Trust

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A.B. Simpson 90 x115by A.B. Simpson

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free—Romans 8:2

There is a natural law of sin and sickness. If we just sink into the trend of circumstances we shall go down and sink under the power of the tempter. But there is another law of spiritual life and physical life in Christ Jesus to which we can rise and through which we can counterbalance and overcome the law that bears us down. But to do this requires real spiritual energy, fixed purpose and a settled posture and habit of faith.

In the factory that relies on a single source of mechanical power, it is necessary to engage the belt that turns the central shaft and keep it engaged. The power is there, but only if the connection is maintained is it usable power to operate the machinery.