Philippians 2: 12 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:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Paul wrote to the church of Philippe from a jail cell. He so wanted to teach the church that Christian living is the out-pouring of the life that they have in Christ. Christ had purchased their salvation and now through the power of the Holy Spirit within each believer they are to demonstrate to the world that which they have in Christ Jesus. They are to live in a manner that the light of Christ might shine forth into a dark world, shining with hope which glorifies God. He says they are to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling." In this He is referring to their outward actions being a demonstration of the salvation that is within them. When he says to do so with fear and trembling, he is talking about the fear that every believer should have in failing to represent Christ in all that they do. We should fear listening to the lies of sin which draw us away from Christ being our greatest treasure and leading us into doing or saying that which would cause a unsaved world to say, "Why should I follow Christ, those Christians are worse than I am in their murmuring and fighting and lifestyle?" If I see Christ as my greatest treasure, then I will study His word that I might say as David, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." If I keep my eyes focused on Christ, then I will desire to shine forth His love, His joy and His glory to those whom I meet in this world. My greatest trembling with sorrow is when my actions may have disgraced the name of Christ. As I stand and proclaim His name to the world, then my actions need to also proclaim His name. My greatest fear is that I might by my deeds or my words bring shame or dishonor to the name of my Beloved. My greatest desire is that my life will reflect the grace and mercy He has shown toward me and give me the power to have joy in the midst of trials, tribulations, and even when I must stare my own failures in the face. I long to seek and savor Christ with all of my heart and soul that I might grow in His Grace and the knowledge of Christ Jesus. In that Grace which grows through faith in Him, I gain the power over sin—one step at a time, one temptation at a time as I ask for grace each moment of the day. Paul knew this and wanted to teach these young believers of all that He had learned. Christ in me, the hope of Glory. Christ had said,
Matthew 5: 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.