Philippian Studies: Lessons in Faith and Love from St. Paul's Epistle to the PhilippiansMoule, H. C. G. (Handley Carr Glyn)
Religion
Philippian Studies: Lessons in Faith and Love from St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians
Moule, H. C. G. (Handley Carr Glyn)
Bible. Philippians -- Commentaries
Again, here is the fact that the normal Christian life is, as such, a
life of "moderation known unto all men," in the controlling calm of the
nearness of the Lord. The meaning of this "moderation" (_to epieikes_)
we have seen; it is that blessed facility, that unselfish yieldingness,
which is not weakness at all but the outcome of the meekness of a heart
which Christ has overcome. It is the instinctive spirit, where He is
in full command of thought and will, when personal "grievances" cross
us, when our personal claims are slighted, our feelings disregarded,
and even our legitimate rights overridden. Of course more
considerations than one have to be taken as to our action when our
rights are overridden. We have to ask whether our yielding will be
helpful or hurtful _to others_; we have even to ask whether to yield
may not do harm to the invader. But these questions, if honestly
asked, stand clear of the spirit of self; they regard others. And
wherever they can be so answered as to leave us free to yield in view
of others, we, if Christians indeed, living really our Christian life,
shall find it quite possible, in the Lord Jesus, to let our
"yieldingness be known unto all men," in the deep calm of "the Lord at
hand." Yes, this can be so, in the most complicated life, and with the
most irritable character, if we will fully "receive the grace of God"
(2 Cor. vi. 1). And the "all men" who "know" it will note it, and will
recognize, sooner or later, the Master in the servant.
Yet again, the normal Christian life is given here as a life free from
care, from that miserable anxiety, _merimna_, which blights and withers
human happiness far and wide, whether it comes in the form of a weight
of large responsibilities or of the most trifling misgivings. "Be
careful for nothing"; "care-ful" in the antique sense of the word;
"burthened with care." In the modern sense of careful, no one should
be more careful than we; "faithful in the least," "shewing all good
fidelity in all things," "walking circumspectly," accurately, _akribos_
(Eph. v. 15), "pleasing the neighbour for his good unto edification,"
"whether we eat or drink, doing all to the glory of God," "watching and
praying always." But in the other sense we are, we positively are,
enjoined to live "without carefulness"; to take pains, but in peace; to
work and serve, but at rest within; to "provide," to think beforehand
(_pronoeisthai_, Rom. xii. 17), but in the repose of soul given by the
fact that with the morrow will come the Lord, or rather that He will
walk with us and lead us into it. It is a great triumph to live such a
life; but it is His triumph, not ours. Let us leave Him free (may the
word be used in reverence?) to win it; to "do this mighty work," to
"bear our burthen daily" (so we may render Ps. lxxviii. 19). Nothing
will much more glorify Him in eyes that notice our daily walk than to
see us always taking care, yet always unanxious while we take it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Philippian Studies: Lessons in Faith and Love from St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians — John Shaqi
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