Before continuing with this blog series, I feel it is incumbent upon me to make the following disclaimer:
Everything I write here are areas in which I am still wrestling with my flesh to make progress. I am writing this to address and encourage my own heart as much as if not more than anyone else’s.
With that said…
In my first installment, I wrote about Paul’s call for us to rejoice in the Lord, always, in every circumstance. The basis for this rejoicing is that we are redeemed by Christ and that we have a steadfast hope for our eternal future in him. With that in mind, I would like to submit the following questions to help bring those theological truths to our daily life:
– Looking back on this week, what problem or situation was foremost in my thoughts?
– As I thought through that situation, how did I respond internally? How did I feel about it? Did I worry? Did I feel bitterness? Was I at peace? Was I joyful?
– As I thought through that situation, what was I most desiring?
– Based on how I felt about the situation, what did I do? What was my external response? Did I try to come up with a solution just to appease my warring emotions? How did I speak about the situation to others?
– Did I pause to remember the gospel?
– Did I pause to consider my situation in light of an eternal perspective?
– If so, how did that change my internal and external responses?
– If not, what is my plan to make sure I do next time?
– In what ways did I inwardly or outwardly rejoice in the Lord this week?
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Now, let’s keep moving through our text:
Philippians 4:4-9:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Step 1 in trusting the Lord is to rejoice.
Step 2 in trusting the Lord is to live in godly community.
When Paul says to let everyone “see your gentleness,” he is referring to living within the body of Christ, namely the church. As we go about our lives alongside other believers, we should be loving and serving them, considering what is best for everyone, not just what is best for ourselves. Paul adds additional motivation for doing so by reminding us that Jesus is coming back at any time – we don’t know when, but until then, we are supposed to living in love and service to the other believers in our churches and in our lives (and really to everyone who is our neighbor.)
Living by faith means that we believe God, we believe his word, and live daily life accordingly.
Trusting the Lord means I am not always consumed by my own life, my own problems, my own situation such that I am unable or unwilling to care for others. Trusting the Lord frees me to go love and serve others in the pressures they are facing in life. If I trust that God has my situation under control, I now have mental and emotional energy to devote to the spiritual needs of others, as well as time and availability to devote to their practical needs.
Now of course we should be wise and do what we can to tend to whatever situation we are facing so as not to become like the lazy fool that the book of Proverbs warns so frequently warns us about. That person cannot expect the Lord’s blessings. If there is something we can do about our situation, then pull a Nike and just do it! What I am saying is that we must be aware of what the realistic limits of both our capability and responsibility are, and not waste effort trying to exceed them when we could be expending that effort for the sake of others.
Additionally, as we interact with other believers throughout our week, if we are not displaying gentleness toward them in the midst of striving to trust the Lord with our circumstance, any one of the following situations will automatically be more likely to occur: We will be fake with them, pretending like everything is okay because we are too prideful to share our burdens, and not creating a space wherein they might also share their burdens; We will be rude to them, feeling like we don’t have the time or energy to talk to or listen to anyone else because my situation is more important than them and they probably won’t understand me anyway; Or we will overburden them with our woes, only using them as a sounding board so we can feel heard, without being open to counsel, correction, or encouragement. All of these attitudes are sinful and do not characterize a person who is showing gentleness to others.
And remember that the Lord is coming back! Let this give us hope in our circumstance, as well as motivate us to be about His work in the meantime!
So let’s think this through:
– What situation am I struggling to trust the Lord with this week?
– Who have I shared that situation with? Did I share it with them to seek godly counsel? Was I open to correction and encouragement?
– Is there anything else I can still do to help my situation that is not sinful or manipulative?
– Did I make time to be around other believers this week?
– As I met with fellow believers either at church or in another setting, how did the conversation go? Did I listen as much as I talked? What kinds of things did I say about my situation? Did I show care and compassion for what the other person was going through? Did I try to one-up his/her story with my own?
– Have I given any thought this week to the fact that Jesus is coming back?
– Who do I know that might need some encouragement or just an extra hand this week? What will I do to make myself available to help that person?
I’ll be honest, I struggle with this. I am a very independent (prideful) person, and I like to solve my own problems. Relying on others takes humbling effort for me. I also struggle with compassion – I often expect others to have the same do-it-yourself attitude that I so pridefully cling to in my own heart. Why can’t people just get it together? I should be able to keep it together! If you are reading this and you don’t struggle in this area, praise the Lord and please pray for me!
Until next time…
