“…my beloved, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with FEAR and TREMBLING; for IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE.” (Phil. 2:12-13) In these instructions, Paul reminds us that it is God who is AT WORK IN US giving us the DESIRE (to will) and EMPOWERING US (to do) to perform whatever task the Lord has called us to do. “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, and WALK IN MY WAYS!” (Psa. 81:13) He reminds the Philippians that they have “always obeyed” and were working out their own salvation with “1fear and trembling.” 1phobos: fear, dread, terror.
Remember the one called the wisest man in the bible, Solomon (1 Kings 4:30). “King Solomon loved many (300 wives, 700 concubines) foreign women…” (1 Kings 11:1) “…the LORD became angry with Solomon, because HIS HEART HAD TURNED FROM THE LORD GOD…” (1 Kings 11:9) What is essential for our learning from this is, we must, each INDIVIDUALLY and REGULARLY, work out our own salvation with DREAD AND TERROR because, “It is a FEARFUL THING to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31)
WE CAN IN, DISOBEDIENCE, FALL INTO GOD’S HANDS OR, IN REPENTANCE, FALL ON OUR KNEES BEFORE GOD, MAKING SURE ALL IS WELL!!!
-Bill Stockham