God's Peace: Meditation for December 14-20
Philippians 4:1-9 (NKJV)
This is the Word of God. May the Spirit of Truth give us wisdom and insight to receive what has been conveyed through His Word by His Inspiration.
Who or what can separate us from the Love of God?!
4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
The Philippians held a special place in Paul's heart. He loved them and addressed them with deep fondness. He told them how much he missed them. Paul's heart overflowed with joy as he thought of them and remembered his labor for Christ among them.
The Philippians were his crown, the testimony of his labor for the Gospel. To Paul, the changed lives of the Philippians portrayed everything that serving Christ truly meant. His only prayer was that they would guard their relationships with Christ and remain deeply rooted in His love.
After thoroughly schooling them on the importance of understanding their salvation, Paul affectionately encouraged them to stand firm with their Savior. He urged them to continue building on the foundation of the faith that was already given to them.
4:2-3
2I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Apparently, there was a noticeable discord within the membership of the church. Paul singled out two women by name and pleaded with them to resolve their differences. He identified Euodia and Syntyche and urged them to make peace with each other. As disciples of Christ and as believers governed by the same Holy Spirit, Paul certainly felt that they should not give occasion to contentions that would undermine their walk with Christ and the testimony of their service to Him. As Christians, they should be of the same godly mind.
Paul solicited someone in the church whom he identified as "true companion" to help resolved the conflict between these women. He had confidence that this true and loyal companion was certainly capable of bringing these two women toward true reconciliation. He was convinced that there should be someone within the church who was wise and mature enough to counsel the women to make peace with each other.
These women had labored for the Gospel side-by-side with Paul, clenment and others whose names are written in the Book of Life. Paul believed that their reconciliation would benefit the entire congregation. So he charged the leadership of the church and other influential members to be peacemakers within the assembly. In so doing, Paul underscored that any difficulty among believers should be viewed as the problem of the whole congregation, and must therefore be confronted and resolved by the wiser and more mature members of the church.
4:4-7
4cRejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! In contrast to the conflict between Euodia and Syntyche, Paul encouraged the Philippians to be filled with joy, to be considerate and gentle toward one another, to be free from worries, and to receive God's peace which exceeds human comprehension, and, any reason whatsoever for conflict. Paul earnestly sought to cultivate a much more positive attitude among the saints of the Philippian church. He exhorted them to rejoice always and to be filled with the Joy of the Lord. He told them once and he told them again. So he charged his co-laborers in Philippi to facilitate peace between its two members so that the Joy of the Lord would be a church-wide reality. The life of God's people should be marked with quiet confidence. It should not be deeply concerned about immediate circumstances or needs. Even though some situations may be stressful on the human level, believers must, nevertheless, learn to draw on the vast resources of God's abundant goodness toward His children. Prayers should never be characterized by worries. But every petition to God must be conveyed in the Joy of the Lord with a spirit of thanksgiving. When God's people overcome worry with thankfulness, their hearts and souls would certainly be filled by God's peace. When believers reflect on their circumstances with a deep and abiding awareness of God's care for them, the stress and anxiety of immediate moments would be replaced with praise for God's goodness. The peace that God bestows on those He loves far outways earthly concerns. 4:8-9
8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. A life that is freed from worry and anxiety by God's surpassing peace would eventually reach a level of mature faith. Believers will come to the point where they desire the godly virtues Paul has enumerated in these verses. So Paul encouraged the Philippians to fill their hearts and minds with a commitment to be godly. He exhorted them to think on things that are right, praiseworthy, true, honorable, pure, fair, acceptable, or commendable. Instead of being driven by a chronic worry or acute anxiety resulting in prayerful complaints to God, Paul encouraged the Philippians to practice what they learned from him. He wanted them to imitate his way of life and service to the Lord. He was confident that the work of God's peace in him was so obvious that anyone who observed his demeanor could certainly know the same peace that was given to the redeemed by God. From the time of his conversion, Paul was filled by God's peace and was no longer distracted by the worries and anxieties of this world. So he encouraged the Philippians to listen to what they heard him say and to do what they saw him do. Then, they too would experience the peace that the Lord gives to His children. Notes/Applications With deeply felt affection, Paul made an urgent appeal to Christians to live within the framework of our faith in God and our hope in Jesus Christ. He urged us to look at the world and all the circumstances surrounding us through the lens of our redemption, our new life in Christ. Our personal conduct and relationships with each other should reflect the living Christ within us. We should live peaceably with each other and rest in the peace that the Lord has given us. The essence of Paul's admonition to believers should not be taken as some unattainable goal. Often, such advice as "do not worry" or "do not be anxious" challenges us because we feel our emotions are beyond our control. We are overwhelmed by them. But Paul did not instruct us to manage our emotions. Instead, he teaches us to submit every worrisome situation to our Lord through prayers of faith, thanksgiving, and confidence in Christ. When our hearts are open toward God through prayer, God graciously pours out His peace to calm our life that is battered by worry and anxiety. Paul is telling us to: practice what we are taught, trust God, believe what He says, take Him at His Word. As we exercise our faith in our Lord and submit ourselves to Him, His peace will begin to nurture confidence in our hearts, cultivating a surpassing calmness in every aspect of our lives. Peace: He has given us. His peace: He has bestowed upon us. There is power in God's peace.
5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;?em>
7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
