One of the tricks of the enemy is to get us to yield to passivity, to just ‘let go and let God,’ and he’ll sort you or it out. It sounds very spiritual, I don’t do anything, God does it, yet that is a complete distortion of what Paul and the other writers say regarding the Christian life.
The enemy loves passivity, it’s the ground he works on. If we give in to passivity we yield ground to the enemy and he will take as much as he can, seeking every opportunity to kick us from pillar to post – there will be no victories, no triumphing in trial, no strength in weakness. It won’t be pleasant and we will find ourselves ground into the ground – discouraged and defeated and wondering why it’s not working, and even where’s God in it all.
One of the things God does for us through the gospel is to empower us to re-engage with life, and reign in it to his glory and praise. Not only are we saved, made right with God, no more under condemnation and have assurance of a home in Heaven, but our heart, mind and will are redeemed and are being transformed and enabled to say yes to God. Nowhere does Paul or any of the other of the New Testament writers give the impression that the Christian life is a passive yielding, a sitting back and letting God do it, but rather that we are now called to engagement, to step up to the plate, to add to our faith, to put on the whole armour of God and fight a good fight, saying no to temptation and sin and yes to God.
Peter says that ‘His divine power has given to us all things that are necessary for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which we have been given exceeding great and precious promises so that through them we may partake of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.’ (2Peter 1:3-4). That’s some promise, a promise to be taken hold of, to be lived in and out. We are not just saved for Heaven, but saved in and for life. The next thing Peter says is, ‘For this very reason make every effort to supplement or add to your faith …’
Passivity allows the enemy to get a foot in the door, you can close the door on him, he has no rights in your house/life, don’t give it to him. Dwell and live in God’s grace and the gift of righteousness; pray, read the Word, listen to God, be filled with the Spirit; take captive your thoughts and emotions, engage with God’s purpose, make choices according to his will.
The Word 4 Life 