The following commentary is not endorsed by either the Oswald Chambers Society nor the publisher.  These insights have been delivered through 808.  When scripture says that we are to work out our salvation, it does not mean nor even imply that we can do anything to add to the finished work of Jesus Christ.  We can, however, observe in Jesus the very expression of salvation and redemption which we are personally called to live as Jesus did.  This expression is not an imitation of Jesus Christ's actions and attitudes.  It is quite the opposite.  Jesus did not imitate God.  Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit and allowed the the Holy Spirit to live out through his human life the very desire and will of God the Father.  Where we as Christians in the 21st century have missed the main point is that we try to use our own abilities to control our ungodly, natural, selfish tendencies.  What Jesus did when He ascended was to unleash the Holy Spirit so that every "believer" could be just a fully filled with the Holy Spirit as He was.  Every believer in Jesus could then stop trying to emulate God and could simply allow the Holy Spirit of God, just as Jesus did, to express Himself through their human life.  

If we look carefully and closely at the life of Jesus, we do not see a man who is large and in charge.  We see a man who was so humble and obedient to the will of God, that lives were transformed every where He went.  Humility and selflessness create an availability of one's every faculty for use to serve others.  It is only in the pursuit and attainment of absolute surrender of my will to God's will that I am saved and redeemed.  And it is only through obedience to the Spirit of God that I am blessed and God is glorified producing treasure for eternity rather than treasure for time.

My best imitation of Jesus would be pitiful at best.  The Holy Spirit having full access to every faculty I possess would produce an exact replica of Jesus Christ!  Why not put down your own efforts to serve or please God and be so yeilded to Him that you immediately respond to the indwelling Spirit's quiet whisper?  If I am too noisy in my great "christian" service to hear the Holy Spirit, I cannot be obedient.  A great word in Isaiah 40 is to wait, be still, be speechless, be taught !  When I have done these, I will, as Jesus did, allow the Holy Spirit to express ("work out of me") the salvation God as put in me.  Please allow me to repeat: "Wait, be still, be speechless, be taught."