Tuesday, October 25, 2011
For a Limited Time...
A sermon podcast of one of my recent blog posts is available above my twitter feed on this page. Its entitle Encountering the Extraordinary. Check it out...
Monday, September 26, 2011
Where has the time gone?
Last night I realized while giving a youth lesson that few of the students I teach remember life without the existance of an ipod. So much for relating to them with something cutting edge... Even facebook is almost 8 years old. Whats the new "it" thing???
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Ordinary
This day, like most others, started off the same way; ordinary. Of course, my agenda today has different items and the challenges and vary slightly from days past, but ultimatly I woke up with an expectation and an idea on how this day will generally look. Of course, that is not uncommon. But this morning I was struck with a thought...what if today is different, you know, not ordinary. I need you to think past trite differences in the oridinary and think, paradigm shift.
I found myself relating to Zachariah in an unusual way. Zachariah was a priest in Israel and they had all gathered to attend what we would consider today a church service. Zachariah was chosen at random to pass out the communion trays..uh..I mean burn incense in the temple. It is sortof like that moment when you get caught off guard when the Bible study finishes and the leader says "brother Chris, will you pray for us to close?" Of course you don't mind...but you just werent expecting it.
Well, Zachariah, I assume, was feeling the same way when he was selected for Church duty and as the congregation waited for his return, the ordinary ritual of worship somehow turn extra-ordinary. An angel of the Lord was waiting on Zachariah to enter...can you imagine the surprise he had when Zachariah walked in expecting to complete a normal ritual and was confronted with the angel Gabriel? (If you are keeping score, this is surprise #2 already) Gabriel then goes on to tell Zachariah that he is going to have a son even though he and his wife are old (Surprise #3) This son, they would have, would be "great in the sight of the Lord". Of course that is any dad's dream. Zachariah, dumbfounded, then questions Gabriel and was struck with the inability to speak (Surprise #4). Zachariah day had gone from ordinary to paradigm shifting.
If you remember, I said that today I found myself relating in a way with Zachariah. For instance Zachariah was a priest and his daily duty was to do preistly (church) rituals. Like Zachariah, I can go about ministry without recognizing where God might be moving when in reality, we should never be caught off-guard when God shows up in our life. Secondly, I began to remember my constant prayers for my daughter and baby to come. My prayers that they would be a joy to us and that they would bless others with thier presence. My prayers that they would crave the Lord and seek Him always, that they would be mighty warriors in the advancement of His kingdom on earth. I began to image what it would be like for Gabriel to say to me "Your wife will give you a son/daughter, and you are to give him the name ______. He will be a delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of God's people will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go before the Lord, in the spirit and the power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobediant to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." -Luke 1:13-17 (with additions) God I pray that you bless my children in this way!
This morning, I have set my heart and mind to expect the unexpected. To realize that the Extra-ordinary is closer than we may ever realize. To become a person that is ready to move when the Lord says "go". To live with a stiff-arm to 'the ordinary'
I found myself relating to Zachariah in an unusual way. Zachariah was a priest in Israel and they had all gathered to attend what we would consider today a church service. Zachariah was chosen at random to pass out the communion trays..uh..I mean burn incense in the temple. It is sortof like that moment when you get caught off guard when the Bible study finishes and the leader says "brother Chris, will you pray for us to close?" Of course you don't mind...but you just werent expecting it.
Well, Zachariah, I assume, was feeling the same way when he was selected for Church duty and as the congregation waited for his return, the ordinary ritual of worship somehow turn extra-ordinary. An angel of the Lord was waiting on Zachariah to enter...can you imagine the surprise he had when Zachariah walked in expecting to complete a normal ritual and was confronted with the angel Gabriel? (If you are keeping score, this is surprise #2 already) Gabriel then goes on to tell Zachariah that he is going to have a son even though he and his wife are old (Surprise #3) This son, they would have, would be "great in the sight of the Lord". Of course that is any dad's dream. Zachariah, dumbfounded, then questions Gabriel and was struck with the inability to speak (Surprise #4). Zachariah day had gone from ordinary to paradigm shifting.
If you remember, I said that today I found myself relating in a way with Zachariah. For instance Zachariah was a priest and his daily duty was to do preistly (church) rituals. Like Zachariah, I can go about ministry without recognizing where God might be moving when in reality, we should never be caught off-guard when God shows up in our life. Secondly, I began to remember my constant prayers for my daughter and baby to come. My prayers that they would be a joy to us and that they would bless others with thier presence. My prayers that they would crave the Lord and seek Him always, that they would be mighty warriors in the advancement of His kingdom on earth. I began to image what it would be like for Gabriel to say to me "Your wife will give you a son/daughter, and you are to give him the name ______. He will be a delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of God's people will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go before the Lord, in the spirit and the power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobediant to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." -Luke 1:13-17 (with additions) God I pray that you bless my children in this way!
This morning, I have set my heart and mind to expect the unexpected. To realize that the Extra-ordinary is closer than we may ever realize. To become a person that is ready to move when the Lord says "go". To live with a stiff-arm to 'the ordinary'
Monday, July 18, 2011
To Seek Glory
John 7:14-18
"Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews there were amazed and asked, 'How did this man get such learning without having been taught?'
Jesus answered, 'My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.'"
We have grown up this way. It has in reality shaped the nature of our culture and is pervasive throughout media, employment, and life planning. The storing up and accumulating of accomplishments to better one’s position is not a new business practice and has been an effective model since the days we got ‘gold star’s’ for completing our assignments on time or with excellence. We have the instilled desire to gain for ourselves, to better or position, or whatever name you might want to use for our pursuit after personal glory.
This motivation has become so entwined in our lives that it shapes the very things that we do, even to the smallest extent. We study hard to…get good grades…to get accepted into a good college…to achieve a degree…to land a prestigious job…to accumulate a greater amount of wealth…to purchase more opportunities to become bigger, greater, faster, stronger. All the while, we do things to bolster what? self.
This is not uncommon. Actually, this is very common. Consider the very first humans to exist, Adam and Eve. Talk about having it made, right!? An intimate, personal, walk with the creator of existence, the authority over all of the earth, power over the animals and every living thing, and even a wife without sin (cool) that was created as a helper for him (cooler). Who could ask for more? Well, Adam and Eve did. The serpent told them ‘you could have more’ ‘you can better yourself’ ‘you will be like God in what you know’ and so in Chapter 3:6 of Genesis we read “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate it.”
At the very basic level, both Adam and Eve chose personal glory over God’s goodness. Through their actions, they said “God, we don’t trust that you have our best interests at heart.” And so they ate.
Romans 5:12-21
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the One to come.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification."
Adam brought a curse of sin and death upon himself and his family because of his disobedience and rejection of God’s goodness. Sin entered the world and as promised “man surely died.” Just as one man brought death and condemnation, Another man, Jesus of Nazareth, would be given the Spirit of God to bring justification and restore man back to God.
Jesus existed differently than all others. Everything that Jesus did was for, and in response to, the Father. Jesus did not exist for personal gain or selfish motivations.
What is gut-wrechingly convicting is that I will ask God to make me more like his son, Jesus. I will even teach that we should be Christ-like, but I am and we are so far removed from living like Christ because we are so preoccupied with bettering our self and our position. Consider our desire for new, fashionable clothes, making the starting line-up on our sports team, even our dreams of “our” future.
I’m sure that I often speak to our youth from my own strength and my own words. I ‘minister’ from my own power with motivations to increase, look better, and be thought of favorably all in the name of Jesus and ministry; when ultimately the fuel that is driving my crusade is, well, wet kindling…just a lot of smoke.
We need a different fuel. How about an explosion? How about dynamite? O! O! Me! Yes, please! The Lord highlighted that image to me during a sermon Pastor Roy was giving last week. As we were reading Acts 1:8 where it explains that “we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This power described here comes from the greek word duname from where we derive our word dynamite.
I think that if we were truly ready to live ‘like Jesus’ we had better hold on because an explosion would be imminent. God’s power is given in the measure that we submit our will’s to His will…and it’s not always about us!
Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.”
"Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews there were amazed and asked, 'How did this man get such learning without having been taught?'
Jesus answered, 'My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.'"
We have grown up this way. It has in reality shaped the nature of our culture and is pervasive throughout media, employment, and life planning. The storing up and accumulating of accomplishments to better one’s position is not a new business practice and has been an effective model since the days we got ‘gold star’s’ for completing our assignments on time or with excellence. We have the instilled desire to gain for ourselves, to better or position, or whatever name you might want to use for our pursuit after personal glory.
This motivation has become so entwined in our lives that it shapes the very things that we do, even to the smallest extent. We study hard to…get good grades…to get accepted into a good college…to achieve a degree…to land a prestigious job…to accumulate a greater amount of wealth…to purchase more opportunities to become bigger, greater, faster, stronger. All the while, we do things to bolster what? self.
This is not uncommon. Actually, this is very common. Consider the very first humans to exist, Adam and Eve. Talk about having it made, right!? An intimate, personal, walk with the creator of existence, the authority over all of the earth, power over the animals and every living thing, and even a wife without sin (cool) that was created as a helper for him (cooler). Who could ask for more? Well, Adam and Eve did. The serpent told them ‘you could have more’ ‘you can better yourself’ ‘you will be like God in what you know’ and so in Chapter 3:6 of Genesis we read “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate it.”
At the very basic level, both Adam and Eve chose personal glory over God’s goodness. Through their actions, they said “God, we don’t trust that you have our best interests at heart.” And so they ate.
Romans 5:12-21
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the One to come.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification."
Adam brought a curse of sin and death upon himself and his family because of his disobedience and rejection of God’s goodness. Sin entered the world and as promised “man surely died.” Just as one man brought death and condemnation, Another man, Jesus of Nazareth, would be given the Spirit of God to bring justification and restore man back to God.
Jesus existed differently than all others. Everything that Jesus did was for, and in response to, the Father. Jesus did not exist for personal gain or selfish motivations.
What is gut-wrechingly convicting is that I will ask God to make me more like his son, Jesus. I will even teach that we should be Christ-like, but I am and we are so far removed from living like Christ because we are so preoccupied with bettering our self and our position. Consider our desire for new, fashionable clothes, making the starting line-up on our sports team, even our dreams of “our” future.
I’m sure that I often speak to our youth from my own strength and my own words. I ‘minister’ from my own power with motivations to increase, look better, and be thought of favorably all in the name of Jesus and ministry; when ultimately the fuel that is driving my crusade is, well, wet kindling…just a lot of smoke.
We need a different fuel. How about an explosion? How about dynamite? O! O! Me! Yes, please! The Lord highlighted that image to me during a sermon Pastor Roy was giving last week. As we were reading Acts 1:8 where it explains that “we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This power described here comes from the greek word duname from where we derive our word dynamite.
I think that if we were truly ready to live ‘like Jesus’ we had better hold on because an explosion would be imminent. God’s power is given in the measure that we submit our will’s to His will…and it’s not always about us!
Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.”
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
True Peace
The world our students are growing up in today is consistently changing. The access they now have to information is staggering and the speed at which their lives travel is so fast that one of my greatest challenges is to help them to slow down. They just don’t live at a slow speed. Everyone else they hear is preaching faster, quicker, more efficient, your time is valuable so get the most for it. Sound familiar?
But then I read Psalm 46:10 where it tells me to “Be Still, and know that I am God.” And it is then that I realize that God is not as much concerned about our ‘time-value of money’ than he is about the quietness of our soul.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
When you hear this psalm I wonder how it makes you feel. Do you ever wonder what it must feel like to lack nothing, to rest in green pastures beside still waters? Have you ever experienced the surety of knowing that no matter where you go, the LORD will lead you down the right paths and that you will be protected from your enemies? There is nothing to worry about, nothing to fear, just supreme peace, joy, and rest.
Oh, how often I long for this still riverbank in my life, the place where I am free of worry, free of anxiety, and completely reliant on my LORD. Let’s daydream together for a moment…
I must tell you that the Lord has shown me that there is so much for me to learn and experience about the peace that he provides. There is a storehouse of immense peace that is available to us that I realize I am only eating the crumbs of. My prayer is that we might learn together how to partake with abundance the bountiful offering of peace that comes from our relationship with God.
When we think about peace, where does it originate? Is peace just an easy feeling of inner tranquility or is it more? Sometimes I think our understanding of what it means to have peace is off-kilter. Most assume that peace is an escape from difficulty or a numbness to the things that cause us grief or anxiety. Unfortunately, in our world there is such a longing for peace but few know how to receive. This search for an escape and numbing of reality has lead to the prominence of alcoholism, drug use, and the ever increasing rise in memberships to all-inclusive vacation resorts. They just want peace somehow, so running away seems to be the only answer.
When we read of David’s peace that we so long for in Psalm 23, is he escaping from his pressures? I don’t think so. David says “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil.” Even in the midst of his greatest distress, he has peace. No need for a beer, no need for a Mediterranean cruise vacation, he has true peace - - fascinating.
In all of history, believers that have experienced the greatest persecution and difficulty in life are the biggest proponents of God’s peace because they understand it the most and have needed it most often. Consider with me the apostle Paul. 5 times he received 40 lashes-1 from the Jews, 3 times beaten with rods, once stoned, 3 times shipwrecked, constantly on the move and in danger, imprisoned and chained, do I need to continue? Paul knew suffering, yet he had Supreme peace. In Philippians 4 he shows us:
He tells us that “…the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
That is comforting coming from a guy like that, isn’t it?
Peace often comes in the form a safeguard. Life insurance can bring us peace of mind. A warranteed home inspection can give us peace about a purchase. Our troops that serve our country allow us to have peace from danger. Consider a city with high/strong walls. Inside there is a peace-of-mind that comes from knowing that they are safe from attackers.
This was true for the city of Constantinople. If you are a history buff, you will know exactly what I am referring to. You might also have more to teach me because a history buff, I am not. I do know that Roman Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity and eventually moved the capital of the Roman Empire to a small town in modern day Turkey now known as Istanbul. He renamed the city Constantinople and the people there lived in peace for 1123 years because of the fact that it was surrounded on three sides by water and was guarded by the most renowned, feared wall the world had ever seen. Nobody could penetrate this wall. Few tried because of the horror stories they heard. Eventually high powered modern technology won out, but this fortress did provide a security for generations and generations.
Do you know, this morning, that the fortress at Constantinople may crack, but a mighty fortress we have in our God, a bulwart that is never failing. Christ himself is our safeguard. No matter how hard our enemy may tear at our walls, no matter how much pain we may be under on this side of heaven, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Hear the words of Jesus:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33
It is hard to imagine that anyone could say they do not need peace or they have enough of it. Most of us would go to great extents to find it. So how do we get it? It’s not something that we can buy, people are already making a lot of money promising peace but it remains a need. It’s not something we get from taking a substance or running away from difficulties. It’s not even something we can find through denial. The apostle Paul, the great recipient of peace, teaches us the secret.
Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Before Paul tells us to give everything to God through prayer, he tells us to do 3 things.
First, he tells us to Rejoice. To find JOY in the Lord ALWAYS. Joy is the attitude of our heart that allows peace to enter.
Secondly, he tells us to interact with everyone with gentleness. How often do quarrels and arguments rob us of peace. Gentleness maintains our heart attitude.
Lastly, Paul gives us a reason to do these things. He reminds us that The LORD is near. He gives us the hope that we cling to, the reason why we live, the eternal celebration is so close.
Romans 15:33 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, be encouraged. Peace is real. Peace is attainable through Jesus. Frankly, He is the only way to real peace. So live with that peace that Paul says transcends all human understanding. Cling to the hope that you have in Christ Jesus our LORD. The difficulties that we face are understood by our father in heaven and He deeply cares for you.
May you live a life of righteousness toward God because as Isaiah 32:17 states:
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”
But then I read Psalm 46:10 where it tells me to “Be Still, and know that I am God.” And it is then that I realize that God is not as much concerned about our ‘time-value of money’ than he is about the quietness of our soul.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
When you hear this psalm I wonder how it makes you feel. Do you ever wonder what it must feel like to lack nothing, to rest in green pastures beside still waters? Have you ever experienced the surety of knowing that no matter where you go, the LORD will lead you down the right paths and that you will be protected from your enemies? There is nothing to worry about, nothing to fear, just supreme peace, joy, and rest.
Oh, how often I long for this still riverbank in my life, the place where I am free of worry, free of anxiety, and completely reliant on my LORD. Let’s daydream together for a moment…
I must tell you that the Lord has shown me that there is so much for me to learn and experience about the peace that he provides. There is a storehouse of immense peace that is available to us that I realize I am only eating the crumbs of. My prayer is that we might learn together how to partake with abundance the bountiful offering of peace that comes from our relationship with God.
When we think about peace, where does it originate? Is peace just an easy feeling of inner tranquility or is it more? Sometimes I think our understanding of what it means to have peace is off-kilter. Most assume that peace is an escape from difficulty or a numbness to the things that cause us grief or anxiety. Unfortunately, in our world there is such a longing for peace but few know how to receive. This search for an escape and numbing of reality has lead to the prominence of alcoholism, drug use, and the ever increasing rise in memberships to all-inclusive vacation resorts. They just want peace somehow, so running away seems to be the only answer.
When we read of David’s peace that we so long for in Psalm 23, is he escaping from his pressures? I don’t think so. David says “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil.” Even in the midst of his greatest distress, he has peace. No need for a beer, no need for a Mediterranean cruise vacation, he has true peace - - fascinating.
In all of history, believers that have experienced the greatest persecution and difficulty in life are the biggest proponents of God’s peace because they understand it the most and have needed it most often. Consider with me the apostle Paul. 5 times he received 40 lashes-1 from the Jews, 3 times beaten with rods, once stoned, 3 times shipwrecked, constantly on the move and in danger, imprisoned and chained, do I need to continue? Paul knew suffering, yet he had Supreme peace. In Philippians 4 he shows us:
He tells us that “…the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
That is comforting coming from a guy like that, isn’t it?
Peace often comes in the form a safeguard. Life insurance can bring us peace of mind. A warranteed home inspection can give us peace about a purchase. Our troops that serve our country allow us to have peace from danger. Consider a city with high/strong walls. Inside there is a peace-of-mind that comes from knowing that they are safe from attackers.
This was true for the city of Constantinople. If you are a history buff, you will know exactly what I am referring to. You might also have more to teach me because a history buff, I am not. I do know that Roman Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity and eventually moved the capital of the Roman Empire to a small town in modern day Turkey now known as Istanbul. He renamed the city Constantinople and the people there lived in peace for 1123 years because of the fact that it was surrounded on three sides by water and was guarded by the most renowned, feared wall the world had ever seen. Nobody could penetrate this wall. Few tried because of the horror stories they heard. Eventually high powered modern technology won out, but this fortress did provide a security for generations and generations.
Do you know, this morning, that the fortress at Constantinople may crack, but a mighty fortress we have in our God, a bulwart that is never failing. Christ himself is our safeguard. No matter how hard our enemy may tear at our walls, no matter how much pain we may be under on this side of heaven, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Hear the words of Jesus:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33
It is hard to imagine that anyone could say they do not need peace or they have enough of it. Most of us would go to great extents to find it. So how do we get it? It’s not something that we can buy, people are already making a lot of money promising peace but it remains a need. It’s not something we get from taking a substance or running away from difficulties. It’s not even something we can find through denial. The apostle Paul, the great recipient of peace, teaches us the secret.
Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Before Paul tells us to give everything to God through prayer, he tells us to do 3 things.
First, he tells us to Rejoice. To find JOY in the Lord ALWAYS. Joy is the attitude of our heart that allows peace to enter.
Secondly, he tells us to interact with everyone with gentleness. How often do quarrels and arguments rob us of peace. Gentleness maintains our heart attitude.
Lastly, Paul gives us a reason to do these things. He reminds us that The LORD is near. He gives us the hope that we cling to, the reason why we live, the eternal celebration is so close.
Romans 15:33 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, be encouraged. Peace is real. Peace is attainable through Jesus. Frankly, He is the only way to real peace. So live with that peace that Paul says transcends all human understanding. Cling to the hope that you have in Christ Jesus our LORD. The difficulties that we face are understood by our father in heaven and He deeply cares for you.
May you live a life of righteousness toward God because as Isaiah 32:17 states:
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”
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