Philipians 2
Rebecca Lightfoot
In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul writes, “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 according to his purpose.”In the context of what else Paul writes as well as placing these verses in context with the whole Bible,AND looking to understand the meaning of the original language that translates to “fear” in these verses,it is clear that Paul is talking about an overwhelming reverence for God as our Father in Heaven inspired by the Great&Awesome things HE has done and that HE has promised to do through Christ...in AND around our lives!THESE are what should give us reasons to have awesome Eternally Significant EXPECTATIONS(trembling) for what The Lord continues to show us AND do in our lives AND around our lives.This “trembling” also brings a humbling into our heart/mind/life because of our knowing only HE is able to rightly continue the GREAT&AWESOME work in our life AND around our life,AND that we are totally dependent on HIM for this work to continue in us AND around us.If we truly believe this,then we are going to align our lives and make adjustments in our life style in accordance with what we believe!When an athlete determines to pursue a goal,he/she will make changes in their diet/lifestyle/exercise/study habits that they believe will aim their lives at achieving that goal.Paul is encouraging us to do the same with our heart/mind/life when he says,”work out your own salvation with fear & trembling,for it is God who works in you,both to will & work for his good pleasure.”The fear & trembling are actually the good things described above that lead us to pursuing & knowing firsthand the work of The Lord in our lives AND around our lives,ever enhancing our awe & reverence for God and HIS promises.Paul continues this lesson in Philippians3:12-14,”Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.....one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”As a coach knows the potential of an athlete and then encourages the pursuit of that potential in the athlete,here Paul is doing the same for those who have turned to Christ as Savior AND Lord!These verses tell us that we have a calling/potential much higher than worldly ambitions&desires...a calling/potential that is healthier for us and have much higher GOALS for us to know in our lives and around our lives!Then Paul says something that we cannot miss when he says,”Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”Paul says that if we choose to “mature” our lives,then we will “think this way”/align our heart/mind/life to this paradigm of Goal Setting & Goal Pursuing,and our habits;our actions;our words;our thoughts,etc.,although not there yet...will be placed in the training to pursue “the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”Dear Lord,I accept Your calling to goals that only You can shape for my life->the only goals that can be trusted as best for me to pursue with my heart/mind/life.I know that so many times I have not been aligned with Your training program for my life...forgive me and please change me from the inside out to only be pleased when I am in Your training program with all of my heart/mind/life...and grant me the attributes needed to be as focused as a world class athlete on Your Goals for my life.