"With fear and trembling": Meditation for November 2-8
Philippians 2:12–18 (GW)
This is the Word of God. May the Spirit of Truth give us wisdom and insight to receive what has been conveyed through His Word by His Inspiration.
Who or what can separate us from the Love of God?!
2:12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I’m absent. In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
We recall from last week's Meditation reading that Paul applauded the Philippians for their genuine and unfeigned faith which was well reflected in their vibrant life of fellowship and service. They were authentic and without pretense. Then Paul urged them to conduct themselves in the same faithful way toward their salvation so that their journey as Christians, and, their life and service as witnesses of Jesus Christ continue to progress victoriously by God's Grace, Wisdom, and Providence.
Even though he was aware of the difficulties associated with living for Christ in a world hostile to the Gospel, Paul nevertheless encouraged the Philippians to stay the course and work-out their salvation in fear and trembling. In telling them to work-out their salvation in fear and trembling, Paul literally exhorted the Philippians to live according to the dictates of their salvation. Being indwelt and directed by the Holy Spirit, the Christians in Philippi were admonished to live a life surrendered to God through obedience, following the precepts and principles of their salvation, recognizing the Sovereignty, Majesty, Holiness, and Righteousness of their Father, God the Almighty.
If they continued to build on the faith that has been given to them, then their daily walk would be the expression of their new life in Christ. They would be walking in humbleness among the saints and wisely among unbelievers. A Christian life lived in this way is the testimony of a redeemed life, reflecting the impact of salvation dictating the daily walk of God's child.
2:13 It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him.
Paul was well aware that nothing pleasing to God can come out of a human heart that is not inspired by the Holy Spirit. However, he encouraged the Philippians by assuring them that, in spite of chronic sinful tendencies and unrelenting hostilities from the world, God Himself stirs up the hearts of His redeemed children to obedience, making them wise and knowledgeable in matters of faith, surrender, unity, like-mindedness, humbleness, compassion, respect, and the fear of God.
The same God—our Father—Who saves sinners by His grace also gives the desire and the commitment to act in line with His Will and His Sovereign pleasure. The same Jesus Christ—our Redeemer—Who shed His blood for the remission of sin also lives out His Person and Character in the lives of those whom He redeemed. The same Holy Spirit—our Teacher and Sanctifier—Who brings sinners from death to life also nurtures the redeemed, causing the saints of God to grow in faith. So, the surrender to obey and the commitment to act are the fruit of God's divine work in the life of the redeemed.
2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing.
Paul had already complimented the Philippians for their faithfulness and obedience. But he also knew that the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit would continue to increase their faith as they worked-out, by God's Power, Grace, and Wisdom the real-time moment-by-moment expressions of their salvation in fear and trembling, that is, recognizing the awesome Holiness and Righteousness of God the Almighty Who called them to a righteous and holy life. So, he urged them to obey God and observe His Word without resisting His Will, complaining, or arguing.
As the saints of Christ, we should always lean on God and be prepared to face life’s challenges without disputing or murmuring. It would be wrong for us to allow the attitudes of our sin-nature and the human spirit to adversely influence God’s work in us. We should not react toward God with suspicion, defiance, or even unbelief whenever our experiences appear to be unusual or different from what we expected. Questioning God's purposes or intentions, when confronted by our own weaknesses as we respond to life’s circumstances, is offensive to our Father. Instead, we should respond with godly wisdom and in obedience to Him, recognizing that God Himself stirs in us the will to do what He has determined.
2:15–16
15Then you will be blameless and innocent. You will be God’s children without any faults among people who are crooked and corrupt. You will shine like stars among them in the world
16as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I can brag on the day of Christ that my effort was not wasted and that my work produced results.
In counseling the Philippians to take God at His Word without complaining or arguing, Paul was teaching the Philippians to trust God and press onward by faith as they faced the challenging circumstances of their pilgrimage. This trust will put their spirits at ease and cultivates confidence in their hearts, encouraging them to believe, trust, and obey.
Then, nothing can turn them away from trusting God and obeying His Word. No foe can defeat their faith in the Lord, because God Himself has molded their hearts to do His will. For this reason, they will be blameless and innocent. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is always working in them. For this reason, the redeemed will stand without blame before God in plain view of a world of crooked and perverse people. Their witness of God’s faithfulness can never be hidden, because the light of the Gospel will shine through their godly character and quiet strength.
By being one in Jesus Christ and by conducting themselves with quiet confidence in everything they do, believers will present a powerful witness for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They will exhibit the Person and Character of their Savior in the practical circumstances of their lives as the world watches. Their witness will shine like the stars for everyone to see. The truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will then be reflected in real ways.
That is why Paul had a real reason to rejoice in God’s work through his ministry. His labor was not in vain. His imprisonment for the sake of the Gospel was worth his suffering for the cause of God’s eternal truth. His joy was fulfilled as he was blessed to see the fruit of his labor in the lives of those whom he served as the messenger of the Gospel.
2:17 My life is being poured out as a part of the sacrifice and service [I offer to God] for your faith. Yet, I am filled with joy, and I share that joy with all of you.
Paul frankly assessed the hardship he was suffering for the sake of the Gospel. He realized that his life could possibly end in the foreseeable future. Yet he was not really concerned about his personal safety. He accepted God’s will in this situation. Life or death, he was content because he knew that he was the appointed messenger of the Gospel called to serve His Lord until the time he was called home to his eternal reward.
Actually, Paul’s life was no longer his own. He now belonged to the Lord. Jesus Christ Himself confronted him on the road to Damascus, saved him, and appointed him to service, as His messenger to the Gentiles. The Lord greatly used him to present the message of Christ’s salvation throughout the Roman world. After he presented the Gospel, Paul continued to teach, encourage, and strengthen those who came to Christ.
In spite of the hardship he faced, Paul’s heart was filled with joy because of the impact of his service to God upon those who heard his preaching and received the Lord’s salvation. His service to them was actually his offering to God. In spite of the persecution he faced, he was overjoyed that his sacrifice advanced the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his teachings were nurturing to the faithful. He rejoiced in what God did for the Philippians through his ministry and happily shared his joy with them.
2:18 For this same reason you also should be filled with joy and share that joy with me.
Paul invited the Philippians to join him in the joy of the Lord, happy that God redeemed them through the preaching of the Gospel. There was ample reason to rejoice and share that joy because of the redeeming truth. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit, their sense of joy and assurance was easily shared although Paul was miles away from them in a Roman prison. Paul and the Philippians were able to rejoice in the unity of their faith because, having been redeemed, they are all members of the Body of Christ.
Notes/Applications
Viewed from the human perspective, Paul’s teaching could easily be misunderstood as unprofitable advice. People, even God’s redeemed people, do not readily give up their personal wishes or preferences. Nevertheless, Paul still exhorts us to surrender to the truth that, once purchased with the precious blood of the Lamb of God, we belong to God and we are called to live in line with His Will and purpose. We are new creation in Christ, old things are passed, all things are new. Our old nature is crucified with Christ on the cross with all of its wishes and preferences. We are given a new life with new norms and manner of living according to God's Will and Purpose.
We are called to follow our Lord's example by selflessly serving God. Paul was well aware that a selfish life influenced by incurable skepticism, belligerence, and resistance to the Lord’s authority effectively undermines God's child, the New Man in us. So, he urges us to trust God’s direction for our life and for His service. We should trust the Lord Who saved us, that He is trustworthy to lead us victoriously and safely through every experience He ordains in every moment of our lives.
Paul’s commendation of the Philippians’ obedience was not an empty praise. The Philippians expressed their obedience in lives that were fully surrendered to God. So he invited them to rejoice with him in his suffering because it served the advancement of the Gospel. He encouraged them to live their life as the expression of God’s work in their changed and vibrant lives.
Paul encouraged the Philippians to live in the fear of God, recognizing that He is Sovereign, Glorious, Holy, Righteous, and Just. The Holy Spirit alone is the Helper and Teacher Who constraines our conduct, decisions, and actions in everything we do. Those same inspired words issue the same call to all of us as Christians, reminding us that it is the Spirit Who empowers and encourages the redeemed to express our salvation through changed lives that manifest God’s redemption through a life of obedience. We are called to an awesome fellowship of God's Grace and Mercy not only to serve Him, but also to live for Him, our God, our Father, our Eternal Refuge. Would it be too much to obey the One Who suffered the judgment we deserved?
