Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
https://bible.com/verse-of-the-day/php.2.12-13/10585
It is amazing how God says work out your salvation with fear and trembling. He then also says in the same verse “for it is God who works in you! ” so what is our part in working out our salvation with fear and trembling? It is not a religious striving but a holy surrender, it is a holy yes- to rely upon His Holy Spirt to believe by faith! To spend time with Jesus – the word (John 1) – Great I Am! When I read the word, this opens the door to know God and be filled with His Holy Spirit!
Jesus is the door! He is life and life abunduntly! He is working in me and equipping me as I get to know His heart!
John 10:9-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
“9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
A google definition of Surrender:
“To surrender in spirituality and religion means that a believer completely gives up his own will and subjects his thoughts, ideas, and deeds to the will and teachings of a higher power. It may also be contrasted with Submission. Surrender is willful acceptance and yielding to a dominating force and their will.”
Jesus has come for a relationship with Him! However I would not describe Jesus as dominating but as living in us in love. We choose to let Him in because we love Him. In order to have a relationship with Him, we must surrender our All to Him! We exchange our lives for His. Galatians 2:20
Revelation 3:20 King James Version (KJV)
“20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
We must open the door to Him, by surrendering our lives to Him!
John 15:7 New King James Version (NKJV)
“7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[a] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
This is His work in us as we welcome Him and get to know His heart, we surrender our heart to Him, and, ABIDE, in Him! In order to ABIDE we have to surrender our ALL. Our life for His!
I love this picture of my son Alexander sleeping in his father’s arms. I believe it perfectly illustrates our part in working out our salvation.