Philippians 2:12-18 (NIV) 12Therefore, 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, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
You are a gold mine. You are a gold mine for God has put the riches and wealth of Jesus in your life. It is your responsibility to discover the wealth that is there and to bring it to the surface, and shine as a light to the world.
Do you suppose that there is some wealth in your soul that you have not discovered, not yet brought to the surface? Is it possible that there are some hidden riches in your soul that need to be brought to the surface so you can be the real you and shine? Paul says work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. The Greek word for “work out” was an expression that came from the mining business that was part of the Philippian economy, and Paul’s statement might be paraphrased as saying that you are to discover the gold that God has planted in your life and bring it to the surface.
And what does a light have to do to shine? Nothing, except to be what is really is. Light does what is has to do simply by being what it really is. Be who you really are. Let your insides and outsides match. Be someone who is not trying to cover, but someone who reveals the gold that God has given your soul.
Both the Hebrew and Christian tradition hold the belief that God made us whole and we are interconnected in mind, body, and soul. We have a private life and a public life, and they are different but not divorced from one another. If I go home and drink until bedtime, then wake up the next day feeling miserable but am able to keep up appearances at work, it does make a difference. If I am mean to my wife and make derogatory remarks to her and then give the impression at work that I am a kind and loving husband, it does make a difference.
To work out our own salvation “with fear and trembling” means with humility. The humility that Jesus gives is the submission of our life to God; a trusting of God to do in our life what needs to be done in the unfolding of God’s will in the hidden issues of the future.
Shine as lights in the world by holding fast to the Word of Life. The Word of Life for us is scripture. The Word of Life for us is the life changing relationship to Jesus Christ. Believe it. You are a real find, a joy in God’s heart. You are a jewel, unique and priceless. I don’t care how you feel. Believe it.
From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope August 23, 1998
© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles
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