“THE PEACE OF GOD”
“The peace of God” is of a totally different character to human concepts of peace. Paul tells the Philippians, “do not be anxious about anything.” Feeling anxious gets in the way of the kind of “peace” God alone can give. Instead, Paul tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always ... by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God ... and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [4 v.4-7]
The wonderful experience then will be, as Paul told the Ephesians and we read 3 days ago, we will have " the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." [6 v.13]
Returning to our chapter in Philippians, let us read and memorise verses 8,9, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
“The peace of God” is of a totally different character to human concepts of peace. Paul tells the Philippians, “do not be anxious about anything.” Feeling anxious gets in the way of the kind of “peace” God alone can give. Instead, Paul tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always ... by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God ... and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [4 v.4-7]
Let
us be particularly conscious of the need for “thanksgiving” for all our
blessings. Moses’ challenge to the nation of Israel was to remember
the blessings of the LORD and how he had “led” them through the
wilderness. [Deut. 8 v.2] We are travelling through the wilderness of
this world. Does it seem like a wilderness? It does if we are really
spiritually minded.
Paul’s wonderful words should be absorbed into our minds - and then we
will have the essential strength to do, as Paul told the Philippians, to
"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." [2 v,12] But how can that give us the kind of peace Paul is writing about? We take special note of his next words, "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." [v.13] We gain an ever greater sense of "peace" the more we sense "we are God's fellow workers" and have become part of "God's building," [1 Cor. 3 v.9]The wonderful experience then will be, as Paul told the Ephesians and we read 3 days ago, we will have " the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." [6 v.13]
Returning to our chapter in Philippians, let us read and memorise verses 8,9, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
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