THE PEACE OF GOD FROM THE GOD OF PEACE

THE PEACE OF GOD FROM THE GOD OF PEACE

Philippians 4:4-9

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, 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. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

When we recognize that God is near –

When we trust him in our anxieties –

When we lay our hearts out before him in prayer –

When we let our requests be known to God –

When we thank him –

THEN God gives peace beyond all understanding. That peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When we work at thinking on excellent virtues –

When we think of virtues worthy of praise –

When we imitate the lives of godly people –

THEN the God of peace will be with us.

The God of peace gives the peace of God. Yet, God requires us to train our hearts and minds to focus on and trust in him. The analogy of a coin with two sides helps us with this conundrum. God promises to give us the all-surpassing peace that guards our hearts and minds. At the same time, he commands that we rejoice always, that we give our anxieties to him in prayer, and that we thank him. God promises to be with us when we think on and practice holy virtues.

We don’t necessarily understand how this mystery of God’s promises and his commands come together, each independent of the other, but so uniquely linked as to work together. Yet we can have the peace of God that the God of peace gives.

In the chaos of our lives, let us bring everything to God in prayer with thanksgiving. Let us meditate on the holy virtues outlined in these verses. Then we can rest in God’s peace.

Jesus gives us these words in John 14:27:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.