Living in the Spirit
October 9, 2020
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 4:1-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, 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. Keep 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. –Philippians 4:4-9
I always considered my mother a worrier. I got the sense, at times, that my mother might have thought if she worried enough the bad thing she expected would not happen. I finally realized that what I classified as my mother worrying might have been the outward appearance of her prayers and supplications. She was a doer. If there was something, she could do to make things better she did it. Her depth of supplication I classified as worry generally related to something totally out of her control. I would love to chat with Paul to discern his take on the difference in worry and praying without ceasing.
The word translated “worry” Paul uses in the above scripture has a deeper meaning.
The Greek word merimnáō is described as being drawn in opposite directions; “divided into parts” (A. T. Robertson); (figuratively) “to go to pieces” because pulled apart (in different directions), like the force exerted by sinful anxiety (worry). Positively, this word is used of effectively distributing concern, in proper relation to the whole picture*. What I would call not blowing something out of proportion.
Paul’s letters were written to people who were being pulled apart. Gentiles were being coaxed to consider an entirely different way of being than their culture had taught them—one God rather than many, love defining all actions, and working together in a diverse community of people. We face the same challenges today. And we see the impact of people being torn apart. Our many gods are gods of our own making too. They generally are more sinister than statues. We also are not doing well breaking out of our caste systems of race and wealth and gender. The other audience for Paul’s letters was his established religion who were so unwelcoming of Paul’s newfound relationship with God through Jesus Christ that he was persecuted. And yet, his faith in Christ, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance gave him the peace of being one with God and leading others to join him in that Oneness.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/3309.htm
Prayer: Our whole nation seems torn apart. Finding common ground seems impossible, but we know all things are possible through you. Heal or wounded souls make us whole make us one. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.