Got Peace?

My favorite Bible letter, and favorite chapter in that letter is Philippians 4. Pastor Bruce spoke on it last Sunday, but as I was re-reading and thinking about the passage, what struck me was that the Apostle Paul told his brothers and sisters in Philippi more than once, "May God's peace be with you!" It reminded me of what Jesus said to His disciples shortly before His passion, " Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27

So in Christ, it says we can have peace, even in the midst of the world's chaos. The Jewish concept of peace, or "shalom" carries with it not only the idea of being at peace, but also the thoughts of " Nothing missing, Nothing broken, wellbeing, and completeness, or wholeness." I think Philippians 4 has some other verses that give us clues as to how to live in God's peace:

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Wow, look at all the nuggets in Philippians, chapter 4!

Has the world got you stirred up? Beat up? Read through Philippians, chapter 4. Meditate on the second half of the chapter, and tell me if it helped you feel at peace. Paul says, If you PRACTICE the Christian way of life, then the God of peace will be with you.

TREASURE

Job, the righteous old testament a patriarch, when he was in the middle of his testing, due to the attack of Satan said,

"I have not departed from His commands, but have treasured His (God's) words more than daily food." Job 23:12

Sounds like what Jesus said in the wilderness, when the devil was tempting Him,

During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." But Jesus told him, "No!" The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:3-4

Do you treasure what God has to say? Have you been on a healthy diet lately? More donuts than scripture?

Paul told his understudy, Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Do you want to do what's right? Do you want to be equipped and prepared to accomplish your work? Do you want to live in the truth?

Have you been in His word today? This week?