Pithy

Pithy means using a few words in an effective way. A statement that is concise, meaningful, and impactful. There are lots of pithy sentences in the Bible. For instance, the whole book of Proverbs is a collection of pithy sayings. My favorite is probably this: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). It’s just one sentence that gives me all that I need to guide my life.

I came across another pithy verse this morning, and I thought, “Wow, there’s so much to unpack here that I need to stop and meditate on each little phrase.” The verse is Romans 12:2. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  How about that for a significant challenge? Now I’m passing the challenge on to you.

First of all, “Be joyful in hope.” That’s sometimes harder than other times. But hope is the key. No matter what we are going through, there is hope. God can change things. God can change me. God can change the circumstances. But if He doesn’t, there is always hope down the road. My eyes are set on heaven. My future is secure. That gives me a joyful outlook.

Being “patient in affliction” is always a challenge. For some of us more than others. And in some circumstances more than at other times. But let’s be patient with patience. It comes slowly and is learned through trials. Not fun, but the reward is worth it. James 1:3-4 says: “The trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (KJV). J. B. Phillips translation states the passage this way: “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence” (James 1:2-4). Now there are some pithy words to mull over, right?

Being “faithful in prayer” just means keeping at it. Don’t give up. Don’t let up. Don’t ever stop. “Pray without ceasing,” says Paul in I Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV). In other words, “Pray continually” (NIV). “Always keep on praying” (TLB). Paul lived up to his challenge when he said to Timothy, “…without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day” (II Timothy 1:3, NKJV). Are you a faithful prayer warrior for someone?

How about meditating on these three pithy phrases today? Three challenges: Be hopeful, be patient, be prayerful. That should keep us out of trouble and on the right track, shouldn’t it?