Philippians 4:5... A "gentle" reminder.

"Let your gentleness be evident to all." [Philippians 4:5, NIV]

About 2 months ago, I met a guy named Phil. He is a coworker of mine at Keystone Automotive. The first week he worked here, I noticed that he didn't act quite like everyone else. Wheras many people here have PhD's in grumbling, Phil maintained a pretty good attitude most of the time. 90% of the people in my office smoke, but not Phil. An even higher percentage of the employees here swear like drunken sailors, but not Phil. I didn't think much of it at first - after all, I've seen other guys come in here just like him, who, after 2 weeks are blending in perfectly. People often "mind their p's & q's" the first week or so at the new job before letting their hair down - that's nothing new.

Phil didn't "let his hair down" after 2 weeks. 8 weeks after having been hired, his cheerful, helpful attitude still persisted, his language hadn't deteriorated and he hadn't decided to help boost the local economy by taking up smoking. Something was different.

Thinking that I knew what response I would get, I asked him a couple nights ago "What's different about you Phil? You're not like the other guys here. I see something different about you."

His reply: "Its Jesus Christ living in me."

Bingo. I knew it. God sent another christian to Keystone. Our numbers have been few as long as I've been here, then they dwindled to even fewer, then the 2 of us who were left both started backsliding, losing our witness in the process. Needless to say, Phil & I had some great conversation for the next 20 minutes before we both went home.

3 days later, I find myself reading from Philippians 4. Phil's gentleness shows. His relationship with the Lord shows, without ever quoting scripture or saying anything specifically about "God" or "Jesus". Isn't this the best kind of witness? St. Francis of Assisi thought so when he said "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

Uh-oh... Gut check time. I was both convicted and encouraged by the conversation with Phil, and then reading Philippians 4:5. I had taken my eyes from the prize. Over the last year, I had lost focus, and was not relying on God to supply all my needs.

In closing, I turn to Romans 5:10-11: "For if , when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our LORD Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."