Building By Grace
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." – Philippians 2:13
It’s easy to misunderstand why we build. Some imagine the Christian life as a ladder to climb—one good deed after another, hoping that at the top we’ll impress God enough to accept us. But the gospel dismantles that illusion. We don’t build to earn God’s love; we build because we already have it. Grace is the starting line, not the finish line.
Paul reminds us that it is God Himself who works in us, giving both the desire and the power to walk faithfully. That means even the impulse to pray, forgive, serve, or repent is evidence of His Spirit moving within us. The Christian life isn’t a performance we muster up—it’s a response to God’s work of grace unfolding inside us.
When we forget this, we slip into one of two traps. Some collapse under the weight of striving, exhausted from trying to be “good enough.” Others lower the bar, excusing complacency by saying grace means effort no longer matters. But biblical grace avoids both ditches. It is not license for laziness, nor a demand for perfection. Instead, grace energizes us to live differently. It gives us the joy of building something that matters, because Christ is the one who laid the foundation and supplies the strength.
Think about it this way: if Christ loved you enough to die for you, will He now leave you powerless to live for Him? Of course not. The same grace that forgave your sins also fuels your obedience. Every brick of faithfulness placed in His name, whether large or small, is empowered by the God who dwells within you.
Reflection Question
Where in your life are you trying to build through your own strength instead of depending on God’s grace? What would it look like to surrender those areas and let Him supply the power?
"We don’t build to earn God’s love. We build because we already have it. Grace is not a fallback plan when our works burn away—grace is the very fuel that empowers us to build with gold, silver, and precious stone."
Prayer
Gracious Father, thank You that I don’t have to strive to earn what You’ve already given. Forgive me for the ways I’ve tried to build in my own strength. Fill me with Your Spirit, so that my life reflects Your power and not my performance. May everything I build be a testimony of Your grace at work in me. Amen.
It’s easy to misunderstand why we build. Some imagine the Christian life as a ladder to climb—one good deed after another, hoping that at the top we’ll impress God enough to accept us. But the gospel dismantles that illusion. We don’t build to earn God’s love; we build because we already have it. Grace is the starting line, not the finish line.
Paul reminds us that it is God Himself who works in us, giving both the desire and the power to walk faithfully. That means even the impulse to pray, forgive, serve, or repent is evidence of His Spirit moving within us. The Christian life isn’t a performance we muster up—it’s a response to God’s work of grace unfolding inside us.
When we forget this, we slip into one of two traps. Some collapse under the weight of striving, exhausted from trying to be “good enough.” Others lower the bar, excusing complacency by saying grace means effort no longer matters. But biblical grace avoids both ditches. It is not license for laziness, nor a demand for perfection. Instead, grace energizes us to live differently. It gives us the joy of building something that matters, because Christ is the one who laid the foundation and supplies the strength.
Think about it this way: if Christ loved you enough to die for you, will He now leave you powerless to live for Him? Of course not. The same grace that forgave your sins also fuels your obedience. Every brick of faithfulness placed in His name, whether large or small, is empowered by the God who dwells within you.
Reflection Question
Where in your life are you trying to build through your own strength instead of depending on God’s grace? What would it look like to surrender those areas and let Him supply the power?
"We don’t build to earn God’s love. We build because we already have it. Grace is not a fallback plan when our works burn away—grace is the very fuel that empowers us to build with gold, silver, and precious stone."
Prayer
Gracious Father, thank You that I don’t have to strive to earn what You’ve already given. Forgive me for the ways I’ve tried to build in my own strength. Fill me with Your Spirit, so that my life reflects Your power and not my performance. May everything I build be a testimony of Your grace at work in me. Amen.
Recent
Archive
2025
March
The Way to TruthLiving Water in a Thirsty WorldThe Narrow PathKnown by GodEternal Life Starts NowThe Relentless Pursuit of LoveFaith in ActionGoing Where Others Won’tJesus Changes EverythingOvercoming Fear to ShineMaking Heaven CrowdedReflecting His LightSalt of the EarthLetting Your Light ShineFueling Your LightShining TogetherThe Call to Surrender
April
The Paradox of DiscipleshipFrom Fan to FollowerThe Cross We CarryThe Joy of Full SurrenderThe Fruit of SurrenderThe Perfect PlanThe Root of Our ProblemThe Perfect SacrificeFreedom PurchasedLiving in VictorySent with PurposeThe True Cost of LoveFrom Darkness to LightBreaking Down BarriersVictory, Not VictimhoodLiving in FreedomThe Invitation Still StandsThe Stone Was Already MovedBreaking Free from the GraveyardGrace Before PerformanceMeeting Jesus in the HurtStepping into BeliefFrom Doubt to DeclarationThe Daily InvitationLetting Go of the OldWalking in New Power
May
Breaking Free from the Chains of ShameStepping Boldly into New LifeLiving the Resurrection DailySelf-Reliance to SurrenderDaily Steps of FaithTrading Comfort for ClarityThe Beauty of Faithful ObediencePurpose in the WaitingOur First Response, Not Last ResortThe Heart Behind the PrayerTrusting in the UnknownTrusting Beyond Our UnderstandingThe Generous FatherGod's Will Is a Relationship, Not a PuzzleLiving with Renewed PurposeDaily Bread, Not Emergency MedicineWalking in the LightFrom Hearing to ObeyingThe Word in Our Darkest MomentsHolding Hands with JesusAnchored by Truth in a Drifting WorldThe Purpose in the PauseDiscipled by Speed, Developed by WaitingDivine Redirection, Not RejectionFaith Forged in the FurnaceThe Divine Appointment in DelayStrength for the Stretch
June
When Fear Meets FaithThe Promise of God's PresenceReleasing the Grip of ControlBringing Fear into the LightHeld by Nail-Scarred HandsCourage for the Next StepFinding RestThe Freedom of HonestyWho’s Really Leading Your Life?Rest Looks Like Being With HimRedefining Rest, Redefining WorthLiving From RestDesigned for JoyThe Purpose in PainCollapsing into ChristThe Journey of HealingHope Has a NameGod is Still WritingUnderstanding Holy AngerThe Danger of Lingering AngerFinding Peace in SurrenderThe Power of ConfessionThe Path to FreedomFrom Anger to RedemptionThe God Who Steps In
No Comments