In our faith the intention to obey and the cultivation of a life of obedience is our responsibility but at the same time, God doesn’t just call us to obey, he gives us the ability to obey. This is saying God gives us the desire to obey and has given us the power to do it. In this power we can go from people who are warped and crooked, bent in on ourselves, to shining examples of what humanity can be. Like a child crawls then walks, we are Christians that are maturing progressively to overflowing with gratitude and joy. 

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”

Philippians 2:12 (NIV)

“This is not the fear of a lost sinner before the Holy One, but the fear of a true child before the most loving of all fathers; not a fear of what he might do to us, but of the hurt we might do to him.”

Alec Motyner | The Message of Philippians