Obedience is the highest blessing that God gives to man - to walk by faith and be rewarded. Seek this with all your heart, and our faithful God will give it. His way is the way of peace not emptiness and vanity.

First, we’re to work out our own salvation fearing God. vs12-13, "So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose." We’re not to take this lightly and waste our lives on the unprofitableness of the flesh. Give yourself to Christ wholly and absolutely. Power to obey will come from Him, and that’s why we seek Him. The commandment gives life by bringing us to Jesus by faith, so He can work in us as promised in the new covenant.

Hebrews 13:20-21, "Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever."

Do not be negligent and let this slip. Don’t live your life for anything other than conformity to Christ. This has to be priority one. Fear and trembling means I must obey [Eph 6:5; Ps 2:11].

Secondly, live without fault in this crooked world. Vs14-15, "Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world." Don’t let anyone say, “He stands for something other than Christ.” Whether it be politics or religion, represent Christ in everything. Give Him the glory with your whole life. Hold back no rooms from His dominion. Let Him rule you absolutely, and follow Him in allegiance.

He will reward you. He will be good to you. We once lived for ourselves, according to our own depraved will. It brought us limited but dangerous pleasure. Now, live for Him wholeheartedly and absolutely, and He’ll give you the pleasure of the gospel. John 15:10-11, "If you keep My commands you will remain in My love [you'll keep believing and experiencing it], just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete." You’re under different orders and a new master. Romans 6:19, “I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.” You have no right to anything but REPRESENTING Him.

Thirdly, the worst thing is to labor in vain. Vs16, “Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.” It would be awful for us to bear no fruit. Paul delivers his own soul by faithfulness, but we suffer the wrath of God [Ezek 3:19]. Don’t hear in vain. Hear unto good works and CHARACTER change. Do not be deceived by self-service. Do not think these words don’t matter.

Don’t hear the gospel, say, “I’ll go,” but then not go [Matt 21:30]. Don’t be a shallow ground or stony ground hearer. Don’t say, “It’s true,” but then not live by it [James 1:22]. Give it everything you have. Come out to God’s way. Repent, and bring the fruits of repentance [Acts 26:20]!

Finally, Paul says, “Be glad and rejoice with me, if I am martyred.” Vs17, “But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” Paul is so near to Christ that it DOESN’T MATTER if he lives or dies. He’s glorifying Christ no matter what. Philippians 1:20, “My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” He’s happy to depart and be with Christ, because his mind has been changed about death, and he has communion with God.

His faith is strong. Do you know how he got this way? He served! Part of the reward of service is assurance, just as deacons get assurance for laboring in the gospel. 1 Timothy 3:13, “For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” We get assurance as we walk with God obediently, and it is the sweetest thing [2 Pet 1:10-11]. To know that you know from the inside, because His Spirit is helping you obey and testifying that you’re God’s child [1 John 3:24].