Aug 07, 2026 Who is Doing What? – Words of Grace Blog – August 7, 2026
Who is doing what? That’s the question I like to answer at home, work, and just about everywhere I go.
When it comes to our salvation and growth in Christ, the Bible is very clear about who is doing what, and we will be greatly helped if we pay close attention.
“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:12-13, NLT).
Salvation and growth in Christ start with God. The word “for” in this passage means that before you and I do anything, God works. God worked to save us and is working to produce in us desires and decisions for what pleases him. God is the master worker. He created us and recreated us for the good purpose of making us more like his Son, Jesus Christ. We were in the mind of God from all of eternity. God initiated the plan of our redemption. He moved toward us and upon us at a point in our lives and called us to himself. Still, moment by moment, he is moving in us to transform us. Every circumstance and situation, temptation and trial, relationship and opportunity, he uses to craft a character in us that looks like Jesus. Let’s be clear, God is responsible for all the good in our lives. This is grace.
Because of God’s gracious work in our lives, we are called to work. Our work is not the foundational work. It is not the saving work, nor is it the work that conforms us to Christ. Our work doesn’t complete God’s work as if his is lacking. Our work is the responding, obeying work that God uses to teach, train, shape, and remake us. It’s the work of faith.
By grace God works for, in, and through us. By faith we respond to God’s work with reverence and hope.
Here are three exhortations from this passage for your consideration and prayer this weekend.
First, don’t confuse who is doing what. God is working in you all things necessary for your salvation and growth in Christ. You are not producing anything in this regard. It is all by grace. You are responding to God with a God-given desire and ability to choose what pleases him.
Second, give thanks to God for his gracious work in you. Be a grateful Christian. All the good that you have is a gift. Say thank you.
Third, live by faith. Take up the good work of pursuing God and participating in his work. Use the Bible, prayer, and conversation with others to cultivate desires according to what pleases the Lord. Make decisions that please him and build your faith. Ask him for the willingness and decisiveness to show the results of your salvation.
One of the great joys of my life is to experience the gracious work of God and to respond to him by faith in the congregation with you. I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
-Scott