The God of Peace and the Peace of God

Last night during our Wednesday Prayer Gathering, we were reading Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, and we were amazed by God’s grace at work in the life of Paul as a prisoner (1:13, 17).  And let me emphasize this:  whenever you read Philippians, with each verse remind yourself you’re hearing from God’s servant in chains (in fact, his life hangs in the balance, 1:20).

Think about that.  We all know that our life circumstances can color what we say or how we say it.  So how would it affect our attitude if we were imprisoned for our faith in Jesus Christ?  What would we say?  I suspect we’d feel a strong temptation to become self-absorbed and speak angry, self-serving words.  Paul may have felt that temptation as well.  But the Lord met him in the moment and enabled him to speak with faith, and from a mindset of hope and peace and joy!

Take a moment to meditate on these God-inspired words from Paul the prisoner:

• He’s grateful to the Lord:  “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,…” (1:3).
• And confident in God’s current and future working:  “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (1:6).
• Paul is sure that God’s bringing great good out of intense hardship:  “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,…” (1:12).
• Even if Paul’s life may be about to end, he rejoices along with his brothers and sisters in Christ (2:17-18).
• Paul may be suffering physically, but his soul is soaring with zeal for Christ’s honor:  “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14).
• Despite his chains, Paul urges the Philippian church to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (4:4).  Don’t let circumstances determine your outlook—let Jesus.
• Believers need to hand their worries over to God through prayer:  transfer your cares to him and receive the peace of God in exchange (4:6-7).
• Paul urges believers to focus their minds on what’s good and right and praiseworthy—the things of God.  And when you do this, “The God of peace will be with you” (4:8-9).
• Did you notice:  we can know the peace of God because God is the God of peace.  Experiencing and spreading peace is on the top of God’s personal priority list; it’s so important to him that he takes it as a title, “The God of Peace.”  What’s more, we can be sure that our Lord intends to spread his peace to us, so that our hearts can be still, be calm, even be joyful as we rest in his strong arms amidst our trials.
• Paul is content in all situations—even in chains (4:11).  Again, circumstances are not in charge.
• He knows he can do all that the Lord has for him to do by God’s strength (4:13).
• Even in prison, God meets Paul’s every need (4:19)—and the same is true for you, and for all who are trusting in Jesus, our Savior.

Take time today to let God’s peace pour over you by reading Philippians!  It’s good medicine for our souls.  In fact, Scripture is how we live and thrive (Matthew 4:4).