Comfort of Love
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
To All the Saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi 2:12-14
Surely when our Lord has this to say to his people he does not mean, not to complain ever about anything at all. Nor is he saying that nothing is ever wrong and we were to just up and go along with whatever just as though we agreed with it all. There are a couple things at work in this text that I would like you to see with me briefly if you will. If you will not that is fine too but I rather with that you would. You would be catching all God has in store for us thus far if you did, trust me, just you wait and see. Though you do not have to trust me for it do you, but rather the Word of the Lord. It is a working out if you will with fear and trembling knowing that it is the Fathers good will to give you the kingdom. Therefore, our obedience is as unto the Lord and not unto men. Paul was in and out of this picture that you see for the church and as spiritual father over them doubtless he had some say in the midst. You know when it came to the Lord, he is the primary person we would have to please and who we were doing it all for that you see. Thus, we obey as unto God and not unto men in the text once again. With that being said, there is grace and truth poured forth at the hand of the Lord. Working out your own salvation does not mean saving yourself certainly. It is then of a walking this thing out with the Lord. For you know that our salvation only comes forth from the hand of the Lord. It is not that we would have any power to save ourselves, oh no, not. When we were walking with him though he makes all our days as but praise to his name. The steps you see, of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delights in his way. Thus, the fear and trembling doubtless come from some unknown ways we should go and also the high places as we were running after our Lord. As with a physical walk sometimes we go through mountains and valleys but still he leads us along. Though the will and desire come only from him. He is a quickening God is not he for these all his people. There might have not been any light or life in the corner where you were at in particular. Then he just comes along and brightens it and lights up your way. Sometimes there is not a corner there once again but a path as plain as day. It is like this is not it in the midst. There might be an authority or two, just like Paul was, a spiritual leader. They might be physical too for all that you know. It is hard to show them is not when they have not known the deep ways or the paths of the Lord. Thus, we show his presence most truly in the absence of all things that would win. You know, like the fragrance of a life fully submitted to him. That way, when the enemy or the authority figure or the person who should not have known the grace of the Lord comes along, they see our God at work in our lives. It is a pleasure to have known the ways of the Lord and to have our days praise his name. Thus, we would just not complain or doubt about him now nor should we let the earthly authority know just how unsettled we are. Our God it would seem is the light in the dark places that speak unto him. He is the candle when all else has burned out. He is the path that makes itself visible. He is the way, the truth, and the life cause cannot nobody do it just as he can once again as unto him.