"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard on another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, and those who are in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now, much more in my absence,
work out your salvation
with fear
and trembling;
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent,
children of God
above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear
as lights
in the world,
holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.... " 2 Phillipians 2:1-16

I prefer to not take things out of context, so here is some context.
work out your salvation
with
fear
and trembling...

I am afraid.... this would seem to be the beginning of wisdom... praise the Lord... because I am afraid...
I hear a lot lately, how God is sovereign. It is good to encourage one another with the truths of Gods attributes. It is important to be reminded, lest we forget and stumble in our sins. God is indeed sovereign. Frankly, it is also very scary. For He is HOLY, I am not. I am unworthy of the great grace He so freely bestows upon me day after day after day. I am unworthy, and often, I am shamed to admit, not barely grateful, for the abundant mercies that He showers upon me. I fear this mightily Lord, I do.. And working on my salvation, it is a full time job.
It isn't some get out of Hell free prayer.. It is work.
Humility,
Grace,
Love,
Mercy,
Patience,
Trust,
but also work.
It isn't easy to Love when you are exhausted, nor is it easy to have patience. It isn't easy to be humbled by the great Creator of the Universe. It isn't easy to show mercy, nor is it easy to receive it. It isn't easy to trust... No, to trust, that is so difficult.
working out your salvation
with fear,
and trembling.
I tremble.
I tremble and I fear I am trembling at the awesomeness of God. At His master plan, at His placement of me here, right now. I shudder, and I tremble, and I don't know what else to say.
I am too busy working it all out.
I would like more of that encouragement that Paul talks about, the encouragement in Christ, the fellowship of the Spirit would be nice too, for there is affliction, we could use more compassion. From others? Perhaps,
with each other, definitely.
Joy, it can be fleeting. But it would seem it ought not to be.
Like a vase emptied of any weight, or self,
think like hand blown glass, cracked into thousands of pieces, held together by the hand of God, alone, by Him.
If you were that vase, would you not fear Him? Shouldn't you? For that is how fragile we all are. How fragile I am.
There is no weight to me to hold me together.
I am broken by my sin,
beautiful only by His renewing of my spirit, hand crafted and God breathed.....
I am that vase....
With all the chaos of my life, all the doctors, hospitals, miles to drive, all that is.. I am very afraid of storm, because all that holds me together is the hand of God... and goodness knows, if He lets go, I will be just a million pieces fluttering in the wake of it all.
What is it that should weigh me down...
The weight of Glory...
the Glory of the Lord,
the Lord Christ Jesus....
This is who is filling me, weighing me, anchoring me, it is also His hands that sustain me, holding me together, and His light that pours forth from me..... for I am but a shell.

.....work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.........


Praise the Lord