Philippians 4:4-9 (NRSV)
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Verse 4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Verse 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Verse 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Verse 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Verse 8Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Verse 9Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Devotion
What a beautiful disposition the Apostle Paul calls us to operate with in the world: gentleness. To be gentle is to be open to life, ready to listen and respond to others. Gentle souls take the other seriously, place themselves in the other’s shoes, and anticipate the effects words and actions have on the other. Gentleness begets resonant relationships, in which participants experience mutual in-tune vibrations that lead to vitality, recognition, and sharing. Paul reminds us that our openness to life’s many dimensions will prove beneficial. Both the profane secular world and the sacred religious world sponsor instances of goodness and excellence. For God loves the world and works in it to bring forth meaningful experiences of such profound realities as beauty, truth, justice, and love (which some even identify as nicknames for God). We are to think about these excellent worldly things that are of God.
Prayer
O God of gentleness, give us gentle spirits and stir us to appreciate the many occurrences of excellence bearing testimony to your handiwork in the creation. Fill us with your peace as we rejoice always in you. Amen.