Peace that Surpasses

 

 

“And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:7

 

Jesus gives this peace-a wholeness of being without fear that results in the tranquil state of a soul being assured of its salvation through Christ. This peace removes fear of being unforgiven by God, separated from Him, and eternal judgment resulting in eternal hell and it gives love, joy, union with God through Christ, forgiveness, mercy, hope-no reason to fear. That is true peace, which only Jesus can give a person when he or she believes in Him as the Son of God for the forgiveness of his or her sins.

 

This peace goes beyond anything we can understand. We do not know how to get or give this peace because it’s beyond our comprehension and abilities because we are sinners. Only Jesus, the righteous Son of God, has and gives the unifying peace-unifying the parts of ourself and us with God.

 

Not only does the peace of Jesus give us wholeness, lack of fear, and union with God, it guards our hearts and minds. Where Jesus is, Satan cannot be. Darkness flees when light enters. 

 

So seek Jesus. Acknowledge He is God’s Son. Believe in Him and receive His salvation. Let the peace of Christ have reign and rule in your heart, mind, body, and spirit. You will be anxious for nothing and can ask anything of God while thanking Him for His answer in advance knowing He loves you and will answer you. 

 

That is true peace. That is union with God through Christ. Jesus gives peace that unites the parts of ourself living without fear now and knowing our eternal future with Him is secure. 

 

“Peace, peace, God’s peace. Peace that is greater than all our sin.”

Through Christ

 

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

— Philippians 4:13

 

The word “through” in this context cannot be read-over quickly. It gives dynamic meaning and purpose to this verse Paul wrote. Here, “through” gets its meaning from who Jesus is. It means being within something or someone—being within the realm or sphere of someone. Paul explicitly wrote in whose realm he lived, Jesus Christ’s.

 

So, consider this verse again. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ.” He didn’t say, “I can do all things.” Paul recognized his sinful self. He knew from past experience that, though highly educated, he was no one and had no power. Paul realized that only by staying in Jesus’ realm—within His sphere by obeying Him and growing closer to Him—could he do anything. For without Christ as His Savior, he himself was an accursed, sinful, willful man. Only by staying and living within the realm of Christ—living through Him—could Paul do anything.

 

Notice Paul did not make a list of what He could do through Jesus. If he had, anything not on that list would be considered by him and others as attainable/doable in human strength, knowledge, wisdom, etc. Paul knew and taught that he was sinful without adding any “but” as a tag ending. He knew without doubt he could do nothing for God without Jesus’ strength, knowledge, wisdom, peace, love, etc. Paul knew he could do nothing for God through his own power, strength, wisdom, etc. He realized and taught, “I can do ALL things THROUGH Christ who gives me strength.” This verse could say, I can do all things ONLY through Christ who gives me strength. When I understand this, then I can understand what Paul meant. 

 

What do I still insist to do and then tell God, “I got this”? What sin keeps me from acknowledging I am sinful and can do no good without Jesus’ strength and guidance.? 

 

Without acknowledging my sinfulness and weakness, I cannot say what Paul did. 

 

Without acknowledging my sins, my pride in myself keeps me from truly obeying God. It gets in the way of the results God desires from my obedience to Him.

 

Without my recognition of my sinfulness, I block people from seeing the totality of who Jesus is, which keeps them from believing in Him for salvation.

 

Am I willing to block someone from receiving salvation through Jesus because I willfully continue to live my life my way and not God’s way? 

 

Where do I get in the way of God’s will? What gift/ability has God given me that I take personal pride in and allow that pride and gift to get in the way of someone seeing Jesus working ? When I do this, I claim my right to my ability and don’t interact well with the person I’m striving to help. That’s me basically saying, “I can do this in my strength and ability.” It shows I am not living in Christ’s strength, but in my own strength and what I consider are my self-given abilities. What people see is me, not Jesus. I block people from seeing Jesus and possibly believing in Him for salvation. 

 

That is sin. 

 

Lord, please help me see where I walk in my own strength and claim the gifts You’ve given me as my own. Thank you for Your gifts to me. Help me to remember to ask you what You want me to do, how to do it, and to whom to speak about Your guidance as I do what You’ve gifted me to be able to do. Please keep me from blocking anyone from seeing You work through my obedience to You. Help me point people to see You as I use the gifts You’ve given me for Your purposes.

 

 

Longing for God

 

“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.”

— Psalms 42:1

 

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your billows have swept over me. The Lord will send his faithful love by day; his song will be with me in the night — a prayer to the God of my life.”

— Psalms 42:7-8

 

Verse 1 speaks of more than needing God for life. It speaks of desiring Him. This desire for God isn’t just internal but results in action-crying out to/calling out to and seeking for God. Longing for God requires heart, mind, body, and soul, just like Jesus taught how we are to love God. This longing for God can be equated to loving God with our whole being.

 

Verse 7 leads us to the depth of our longing for God. From the depths of our being-our souls (and above that), we cry out for/long for God, the deepest source and meaning of our being and all life. We recognize and seek with all we are for God, the source and sustainer of our life now and for eternity. We recognize Him from His constant presence in our lives; we hear the sound of His presence and provision like the sounds of a great waterfall-the gates of heaven’s dams/storage houses opened and rushing out from Him toward us. His waters rush over us like breakers of the sea and they provide life to us.

 

Verse 8 says God commands/decrees (what He says will be done) His lovingkindness (redemption from enemies/His payment for our freedom from enemies now and throughout eternity (including from Satan). God declares and decrees we are His possession. That comes from His faithful love for and toward us in times of rejoicing (day). God’s faithful love is our song of worship to which we can hold and about which we sing during difficult times. These become the songs-prayers-we sing to the God of our lives. 

 

Longing for God comes from the depth of our being and causes an action from us to seek Him from our whole being, acknowledging He is our source and meaning of life. This acknowledgment leads to our whole being singing to the Gods of our lives now and eternally because of who God is and what He’s done-His faithful love decreed to us. Our singing to and about Him is our worship of Him. 

 

We reach out to God. He is faithfully and lovingly always near us. We worship Him in song, rejoicing because of the redemption He gives us now and eternally. What God decrees will happen because of His faithful love toward us and creation.

 

Note: To enjoy the full and lasting presence of God, we each must believe in Jesus as our Savior so that we are eternally forgiven and cleansed from our sins. This gives to each believer the promise of being with God for eternity. This is the ultimate redemption of ourselves from our enemy, Satan.