“Let your
gentleness be known to everyone...”
~Philippians
4:5 (NRSV)
Joy, gentleness, and peace are
loosely linked together in early Philippians chapter 4. These three, as a unit,
are the best combatants against anxiety; whether it’s propagated from within us
or it’s generated from our external worlds.
The interesting thing is when we
practice gentleness we become known for our gentleness. In other words, when we
lavish gentleness upon ourselves, being our best advocate, we tend to be
advocates for others, and we are gentler with them, too. Being our best
advocate is simply agreeing with God—who is a better advocate than the Spirit
of Advocacy?
Linking Joy, Gentleness, And Peace
What appears to be a loose
arrangement in Philippians 4:4-7—regarding rejoicing in the Lord, being gentle,
and relieving anxiety through prayer—can be seen as something that is interdependently
related.
When we are at joy from within,
rejoicing in the Lord, which is
possible anytime, we have a forbearing spirit, and gentleness becomes us, for
we have no anger—just praise. When we see everything about us through this lens,
our anxiety melts, as it transforms into peace; then our faith is justified.
Joy, gentleness, and peace, then,
are a cord of three strands. They work for those who work for righteousness.
They work for those who work for a bond of peace. Bound together, these three
produce a tight unity that is not easily undone.
As Gentleness Ripples Outward
If we cannot be gentle with
ourselves, we cannot be gentle with others. If we cannot be gentle with the
precious material that consists us, we cannot be gentle with the precious
material that consists other people, either.
This is why it is biblically
important that our gentleness starts from within.
When our gentleness starts from
within it echoes out, impacting others’ lives in patience and kindness and
compassion. This is how we become known for our gentleness; by being gentle, first of all, with ourselves. By
being patient with ourselves, and kind, and compassionate, we experience the grace of God.
And what is interesting is this
rippling effect. As the body, mind, and soul experience the gentleness of the
Spirit of God, glorying in the Presence of the divine nature, the joy and peace
experienced must, as a natural progression, tend outward. It
cannot be contained. This is where love operates magnificently, abounding by
the grace of God into others’ lives.
***
Perhaps the biggest mistake we can
make is not being gentle enough with ourselves. We may be quick to condemn. Are
we so quick to allow God to soothe our souls? When we practice gentleness we
become known for our gentleness.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
No comments:
Post a Comment