Philippians 2:12 says, 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.  Paul called the Christians at Philippi his beloved.  This was not a romantic term, but a term meaning that they were deeply affectionate to him through their mutual faith in Christ.  He commended them for their obedience while he was with them, and this wasn't obedience to him, but obedience to Christ.  Paul commended them even further that their obedience to Christ had even grown in his absence.  He then called on them to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.  This did not mean that they were to make their own plan of salvation, but that they were to continue to work on growing in their faith, while submitting completely to the Holy Spirit.  Verse thirteen states, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  Paul then clarifies that it is not their own work that brings salvation, but God working through them.  It is God's will that every person be saved, and He has given us a way to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Then, God calls each person to his or her own task in the accomplishment of God's will.  Verse fourteen declares, Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  This is such a simple statement and should be one that those who are following Christ should not have to be told to do, yet we too often hear of murmurings and disputes between Christians.  Too often we allow our opinions to become what we feel is God's law, and we murmur about those who do not agree with us.  Verse fifteen adds, 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;  Paul said that the Christians at Philippi, and everywhere else for all time, were to do the things that he had just told them to do so that they would be blameless and harmless before God.  He also said that they were called on to do this in a crooked and perverse generation.  As followers of Christ, we will always live in a crooked and perverse generation, but we can never afford to come down to their level.  If there is nothing different about Christians, how can we expect the world to want what we have spiritually?  Verse sixteen declares, 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 was asking them to hold fast to the gospel of Christ, so that he would not have run and labored in vain.  Paul devoted his life to spreading the gospel after he accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, and he had reached the Christians at Philippi with that gospel.  If they proved to have not really accepted the salvation of Christ or did not allow it to control their lives, then Paul felt that what the had done would have been in vain.  We today as followers of Christ must hold on to the word of God if we are to be obedient servants of God.  Verse seventeen adds, Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.  Paul said if he was offered up as a sacrifice for their service and faith that he would rejoice with them.  Paul could not offer himself for their salvation, but he was willing to lay down his life that they might know the gospel, and he would rejoice with those who accepted the gospel, even if it cost him his life.  We need that same dedication today.  Verse eighteen concludes, For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.  Paul asked only that the Christians at Philippi rejoice with him.  He was under arrest, but he was still rejoicing in his salvation.  We need to live and speak in such a way today that people will see the joy of our salvation.  Complaining and murmuring will never accomplish this.