It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phil. 2:13
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Cor. 15:10
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Psalm 138:8
Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to do good works without concern for merit or earning, making you happy or fearing your disappointment. For the gospel put an end to “wages” as the motivation for our obedience. Because of Jesus’ bold declaration, “It is finished,” we can now give ourselves to the unfinished business of your kingdom, and neighbor love, with zero self-interest.
Thank you for the “inside job” you’re accomplishing in us. Not only are you seeing to it that we work for your good pleasure, you’re actually giving us the will to do so (Phil. 2:13). This underscores how dependent we are on your Spirit’s work. Such good news doesn’t make us passive, but active, as we give ourselves to the things that really matter to you.
Father, to whatever extent you’re accomplishing things through us that have eternal value, we gladly affirm with Paul, it isn’t us, but “the grace of God that was with me.” May your grace have an even greater effect in us where we live, work, and play.
Free us to love your glory more than our reputations, your transforming kingdom more than our personal fiefdoms. May your story of reconciliation and redemption be more precious to us than personal peace and a life of acquisition.
Because we’re confident you will accomplish your purpose for us, and because we’re certain of your “steadfast love” for us in Jesus (Psalm 138:8), we want the rest of our days marked by gospel risks, not by playing it safe. May our faith increasingly express itself in love. And may your grace free us to love mercy, do justice, and walk humble with you, our God (Micah 6:8). So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ exalted and beautiful name.