Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Praise Him for strengthening me to share His word. For the preparation to hear the word of God, let's pray.
Let me read, the letter of St.Paul to the Philippians Chapter 4, Verse 6a. " "
For the perfect understanding of this this Verse, we have to know the context. The father of Great Alexander this city called it in his name, Philippi. Paul share the good news there during his second missionary journey. After that the church was established. While Paul was in prison for the sake of gospel, through letter, he would like to encourage the Philippians in the midst of their struggles. What situation he experienced, from that, he explained to them about the joyfulness in Christ in the midst of problems. No one can say, there is no trouble in the Christian life. But there is joy in the heart of the children of God even though the worries around them.
St. Paul used the Greek word merimnao which means to be anxious. It is an old verb for worry and anxiety. It is mostly used with negative sense in the NT. It's mostly connected with the psychological impact. It is a present imperative active 2nd person plural. Paul was not say to someone, he commended or instructed to the whole audience. Like wise, Paul told, do not worry about anything which means everything not something.
Why do not worry? Any benefits by our worries? Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly says, in Matthew 6.26, " ." Yah, it's really true. By our worries we lose our peace of mind; we can not do anything what we want. And we raised questions such as why it was happened to me? Why I am alone suffering? The reason for our anxious is we are focusing on our problems and our weakness. But the Bible encourage us "Don't Worry" Because, the Bible teaches us how to live without worry in the worrying world.
In this temporary world, many of us worry about our past guiltyness, present struggles, and future life. Most of the people worry about the financial needs and struggles. During covid - 19 lockdown we are struggling in lot of things. As a student community, we are worry about assignments, exams, sermon evaluation. If we worry, no onr help us in these areas. These are just temporarily we are facing. But St. Paul focused on more than these. He encouraged the congregation to not worry about personal life and Christian communal life.
Today for our meditation on the theme "Do not worry, Be Happy," I would like to share three points from the scripture, regarding how to not be worry?
The first thing is,
1. Let be known to God
Let me Read Philippians 4.6 " "
The Apostle Paul instructed the Philippians, to seek God. If we not to be worry, we must insinuate God what are the things worried us. Even though, God knows everything, it is for our shaking to free our mind, we have to convey our problems with God. Without sharing, stored everything in our hearts, we can not live happily. The worries in our heart slowly slowly kills our peace of mind.
If we look into the 1 Samuel, Chapter 1, How Hannah share her worries to God? She was one of two wives of Elkana. She had not have a child. But another had children. Even though her husband comfort her, this problem made her anxious. But she went to temple and pray to God. She told everything from her heart to Him. 1 Samuel 1. says " ." Hannah become happy because she insinuated to the one who hear prayers.
Dear friends, you may be face any problems or troubles, Bible clearly guide us to submit our supplications to God through prayer. Prayer is the best way to get connection with God. Do not worry, Seek God, Be Happy.
The Second thing,
2. Let be Mediated on the Word of God
We do not give up within prayer, we have to mediate His word for what he instructs us. Because, nothing is comparable with His word which is comfort us and guide us. Let me Read Proverbs 12.25 " ."
We all of us are well-known about the event of Marth and Mary in Luke 10. - . One day Jesus came to the house of Martha at Bethany during his ministry. Martha was fully busy with her works in the house. At that time, Mary was listening the words coming from the mouth of Jesus. Martha complainted Mary to Jesus because of her worries. Jesus replied in Luke 10. " ".
Here we can affirm that Marth was not worried about her basic work towards Jesus. She was anxious about many things. She faild to understand what Jesus wants and to prioritize it. Because Jesus told Mary has choosen what is better. This event does not teach us we do not do any works. It teaches us how to we prioritize and giving important to His presence. His words comfort and heal our broken hearts.
The Third point is
3. Let be practicable the Will of God
Let me read, 1 Peter 5.5 " ".
Here the Apostle Peter used the verb epiriptó which literally means, "to throw upon." This verb originated from two words epi and rhipto which means to or for and throw or cast. He instructed the readers of his letter to cast their worries on God.
St. Peter experienced that happiness and he says. If you read Acts 5.41, the apostles were happily returned from Sanhedrin council after their persecution. Because they were actively be practicable what they learn from the word of God. And while Peter was written this Letter to them, they were persecuting by Romans in the first century AD. So St. Peter was strengthening them. He called them do work, so for that he instructed them to cast their worries upon God.
Most of us failed to throw our worries even though we pray and read Bible. We are over thinking that kills our happiness.
One day, there was a man who is walking on the path without slippers and having heavy load on his head. On the way one who was coming by Horse Cart saw him. Having compassion on him, the owner of the horse cart asked to come and journey with him. He thankfully accepted and overlap on horse cart. They were journeying. After somewhere, the owner of the horse cart, stopped his cart and angrily told him, leave. Because there was a huge place. But the man was not lay down his baggage on cart. He continuosly was having it on his head in the cart.
Like him, today many people are living with burden in their hearts and broken hearts. When we Start to be practicable in casting our worries, we can be happpily.
Some has money, some has property, some has talents, some has support of high level officials. But all these things can not help us to be happy without worries. A way for happy life in our hands, how we seek God, how we mediate his Word and how we practice it.
Dear friends,
Let be known to God
Let be Mediated on the Word of God
Let be practicable the Will of God
May our good God continue to lead you with peace of mind.
Do not worry, be Happy!!!
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