Tuesday, January 8, 2019
SWEET REASONABLENESS!
Phil
4:5-7
5 Let your moderation be known
unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.
The Greek word
for “moderation”
in our text is epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace'); and
means appropriate, (by implication) mild:
gentle, moderation, patient. (From Strong’s Concordance)
The word epieikes
is of very extensive signification; it means the same as epieikeia, mildness,
patience, yieldingness, gentleness, clemency, moderation, unwillingness to
litigate [go to court] or contend; but moderation is expressive enough as a
general term. "Moderation," says Dr. Macknight, "means meekness
under provocation, readiness to forgive injuries, equity in the management of
business, candour in judging of the characters and actions of others, sweetness
of disposition, and the entire government of the passions."
· from Adam Clarke's Commentary
This word
is used ONLY ONCE in our English New Testament! It is
coupled with the idea that the Lord is returning soon … actually at hand or at
the door. So it is explained in the Amplified New Testament.
Phil
4:5
5 Let all men know and perceive and
recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit).
The Lord is near [He is coming soon].
AMPLIFIED
The idea is not so
much CONTROL
but of YIELDEDNESS. To yield to a force greater than myself is surrender.
To yield to a force equal to me is strategic. To yield to a force
weaker than myself is grace!
Today you may
be forced to yield to a force greater than yourself. Perhaps it will be an
illness or circumstance beyond your control. You may also have an occasion to
yield to an equal; to show courtesy to another. You may also have an
opportunity to yield to someone weak, perhaps a child or someone handicapped.
This is grace. This is sweet reasonableness.
Dear Lord, let me live today in the
light of your soon coming. AMEN
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