What are you working on? Are you working on making yourself a better person? Are you pursuing continual improvement? For what purpose? Are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling?
Nearly all of us are working on one thing or another. Many of us are working on multiple things at once. We continue educating ourselves, whether through school or professional classes, or reading professional books or articles.
How are we working out our salvation? I’m sure a response many will give is, “I don’t need to work out my salvation, Jesus took care of that on the cross.” True, He guaranteed our salvation in His death, burial, and resurrection from one perspective. By that I mean, He guaranteed we would be saved and will spend eternity with Him. Yet, there is another part of salvation we are to work on.
As we look at today’s passage, the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Philippi. A key point to remember is He is writing to those who are followers of Christ. In fact, he commends them for their obedience. He also tells them to continue to work out their salvation. What can he mean?
In today’s vernacular we might say we are to continue to mature in our belief, knowledge of God, attitude, and behavior. When he states we are to do so in fear and trembling, he is talking about being in awe of God and so much so that we shake in pure joy that we serve such an awesome God. Paul goes on to say the purpose is to fulfill God’s purpose.
In other words, Paul is telling the Christians in Philippi, and us, to continue to mature in our faith. We are to do so with the purpose of fulfilling God’s plan for us, both individually and corporately. By maturing in our faith and knowledge of God, we are both empowered and guided to carry out His plan.
I pray we all continue to work out our salvation. I pray we are in awe of God and overjoyed in His awesomeness. I pray each one of us will commit to continue to mature in our faith. Seek to know more about God. Strive to grow into full maturity in faith. Listen for God’s guidance. Work to fulfill His plan.
Philippians 2:12-13 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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Marty Pressey 