“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5).
The word “moderation” carries the thought of reasonableness, considerateness, gentleness and forbearance, which we who know the Lord are to exercise because “the Lord is at hand.” We are “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ,” “and every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” We are therefore to be “gentle, showing all meekness unto all men,” “with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.” “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children,” “for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” “Now I ... beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ” to “let us consider one another,” and “rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep,” and “be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” “Let your moderation be known unto all men,” for “we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Gentle and meek and forbearing,
God would have His people be,
Looking “on the things of others,”
Living for eternity.
Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:3; Titus 3:2; Eph. 4:2; 5:1; Matt. 5:45; 2 Cor. 10:1; Heb. 10:24; Rom. 12:15; 2 Tim. 2:24-25; Phil. 3:20.