Holy Awe of God

Scripture

 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ] -Phlippians 2:12

Did you know that your salvation requires your active participation? I don't mean to work in the sense of accomplishing salvation; that's been accomplished. I mean, you work it out by assuring that it is evident in every area of your life. Essentially, we are responsible for putting God's gift of salvation into practice in our daily lives. We must work out what God has worked in. Our lives must exude salvation. To that end, if we must work it out, we must give attention to it. We give attention to the work of God in the lives of others, but this attention must be given to our own souls as well. 

So, what does it all mean? It means that you and I are responsible for our growth and maturity as believers. It means we actively and reverently participate in our daily walk with God. We are intentional about applying spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, and worship. Jesus said to pray and not faint. (Luke 18:1) He was encouraging consistent, unwavering prayer even in difficult circumstances. This consistency builds endurance in our walk. Paul encouraged Timothy to diligently study the Word of God so that he could teach and defend his faith without fear or embarrassment. (II Timothy 2:15) This is true for believers today. The more we study the scripture and apply it to our lives, the more we are transformed.  When we worship, we're giving God the supreme worth that He deserves. Worship should engage the whole person-will, mind, and emotions. In our worship, we express gratitude and thanksgiving to the Father. All of these components assist us in working out our soul salvation.

So, what about fear and trembling? Paul did not mean that we walk around in fear and terror, but it's the fear of not working out your salvation. He meant that we should have a holy awe of the Most High God to the point that we desire to conform to His will. We have such reverence for Him that our supreme goal is to please Him by engaging His will for our lives. It is the reverential fear that we have for the Lord that causes us to work out our souls' salvation. It signifies recognizing our dependence on God and the seriousness of the Christian life. Beloved, love your Christian life. Love the beautiful journey that God has set before you. Remember, you are His poetry, and every time you work out your soul salvation in your daily life, you are reading out the lines of His poem that make up the fabric of your new life in Him. 

Prayer

Father, thank you for the gift of salvation. Help us to obey your word faithfully, both when others see us and when we are alone. Enable us to 'work out our salvation with fear and trembling,' recognizing it's not by our own effort but because it is God who works in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure. In Jesus' name. Amen