Joy in the Lord, in the gift of salvation, is our strength in a world that is hell bent on destroying our faith. There have been many times in my life that I have found peace only in knowing that God wants the best for me and for those that I love.
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.
I strive daily to hear Him and to be His hands and feet in a world system that is decaying. We see in part what He sees in whole. I trust God’s plan. Carla
In the midst of difficulties, in the midst of all situations, Christians are to rejoice. The joy of Christians is not based on agreeable circumstances, instead it is based on their relationship to God. Christians will face trouble in this world, but they should rejoice in the trials they face because they know God is using those situations to improve their character (James 1:2–4).
This noun for gentleness identifies a person who manifests a calmness and fairness of spirit. A person who is gentle is willing to sacrifice his or her own personal rights to show consideration to others.
The Lord’s return could occur at any moment. Paul uses that fact to motivate the Philippians to honor God with their lives. Paul exhorts the Philippians to pray about their circumstances instead of worrying over them. Be anxious for nothing, although the same word in 2:20 describes Timothy’s concern for the Philippians, here Paul uses the word to refer to worry. He prohibits the Philippians from worrying about their own problems. Instead they are to commit their problems to God in prayer, trusting that He will provide deliverance.
Paul’s choice of a military term, will guard, implies that the mind is in a battle zone and needs to be “protected by a military guard.” Since the purpose of such a guard in a wartime situation is either to prevent a hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from escaping, the peace of God operates in the same way: to protect the mind from external corrupting influences and to keep the mind focused on God’s truth. The NKJV Study Bible
Sometimes our work for God requires severe actions. In these times—ones that we can’t possibly prepare for—we need to rely on the Spirit and its work to empower us. Barry, J. D., & Kruyswijk, R. (2012).
The motif of maintaining joy in the midst of suffering is common in Paul’s writings (Colossians 1:24; 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 8:2).
Gentleness refers to showing consideration for one another. By displaying gentleness toward all people—believers and unbelievers alike—Christians reveal the gospel’s power to transform and reconcile.
Paul again references the Day of Christ as motivation to live in a godly manner.
The early Christians lived with a sense of urgency because they believed the Lord’s return was imminent (Matthew 24:36–44; 2 Peter 3:1–13). Paul probably was aware of hardships facing the Philippians (Philippians 1:29). Paul wants the believers to acknowledge their dependence on God and His provision.
The Greek word used here, eirēnē, conveys a range of meanings, including well-being, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, safety from harm, and deliverance from enemies. Paul envisions God’s peace as a soldier who protects the hearts and minds of believers from anxiety, fear, and doubt. Faithlife Study Bible
Each day on this journey, I’ve been finding time to remember Howard Thurman’s invite, “There must be always remaining in every life, some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathlessly beautiful.”
And my friend Charlie sent me this from the Center for Action and Contemplation. “There is a sense of God’s incarnate presence in creation that shimmers forth to reveal the holiness of all things. Notice how your senses come alive when you walk out in the world aware of its sacramental nature. What do your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin each reveal to you about how God is alive in the world around you?” Sabbath Moments
The gospel transforms our approach to our current reality and our unknown future:
Instead of contending with God, we surrender to God through faith in Christ, trusting that He works for our good (Romans 8:28).
Instead of thinking, I know best, we acknowledge that He knows best and will always provide for us in Christ (Matthew 6:25-34).
Instead of trying to predict what's coming, we allow the Author of our story to keep writing and perfecting our faith as we keep looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
We can't know every detail of "what will be" (Ecclesiastes 6:12), but we can know and proclaim what Jesus has already done for us.There are many mysteries of God that we understand only in part, but we find hope in the assurance that we "have life and have it abundantly" in Christ (John 10:10).
He knows the future, and because we know Him, we can trust where He's going with our stories. However, striving to know God through relationship with Jesus leads to peace that "surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). God has always desired an intimate relationship with humanity. His love remains steadfast despite our sin. He has made a way for reconciliation through Jesus' death and resurrection, and when we draw near to Him, we can truly know His heart and reflect His love to others. First5
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