My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
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Philippians 4:5 … The nearness of the Lord<br />
(02/25/20<strong>17</strong>)<br />
“Let your gentleness be known <strong>to</strong> everyone ...<br />
The Lord is near” ~ Paul (Philippians 4:5)<br />
The Lord is indeed always near, my Friends -- not in the “benevolent dicta<strong>to</strong>r<br />
hovering above” sense meant by Paul (and his followers in the modern-day Christian<br />
church), but rather in the “always residing within” sense of Jesus Christ (see John<br />
14:20-26) … And whereas Paul would have us be gentle <strong>to</strong>wards others for fear<br />
of rebuke from God, Jesus would have us be gentle <strong>to</strong> others solely for their<br />
benefit – and only therein & thereby remember how it feels <strong>to</strong> act as an agent of<br />
God, instead of as a mere worshipper thereof (see Matthew 5:48, Luke 6:36,<br />
Matthew 8:21-22, John 16:33 et al) … Note as well that that Paul‟s “everyone” is<br />
not the same as Jesus‟ “everyone” – that the former implies those who are nearby<br />
and primarily those who are one‟s allies (Paul is only admonishing fellow believers<br />
in Philippians 4), while Jesus means for us <strong>to</strong> actually Love everyone (Matthew<br />
8:21-22) – especially our enemies (Matthew 5:40-44 + Luke 10:25-37) &/or the<br />
downtrodden among us (Matthew 25:35-40 et al).<br />
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