True Peace

Dear class,

Today's readings round off the book of Isaiah with chapters 65 and 66, as well as couple of short passages from 2 Kings 20:20-21 and 2 Chronicles 32:32-33. And we end off the book of Philippians with the 4th chapter.

So many gems in this encouraging epistle! Especially this concluding chapter.
It starts off with the glowing commendation from Paul, moving through verse 4, which is the very lyrics of the well-known junior bible class chorus!
Then Paul gives us the key to true peace and strength, before rounding off again with bouquets to the Philippi brethren.

So often we hear of peace slogans. With the world in turmoil and widespread unrest, peace seems to be an unattainable ideal.
World turmoil is exhibited even right near the beginning. Even before the Flood, the bible tells us "...that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Gen 6:5). In fact, it was for this very reason that all terrestial life was annihilated, save the 8 souls of Noah's family and the creatures in the ark. This is the crux of the problem - since Adam's sin, the world is destined for unrest because of sin. Peace is not and can never be found on earth as long as sin exists. True peace is not found in the worldly sense but in the spiritual, through Jesus Christ.

Verses 6-9 give us the "quick start" guide to true peace.
1) Prayer
O how prayer rests the weary!
Prayer will change the night to day;
So when life seems dark and dreary,
Don't forget to pray.
~ Mary A. Kidder (Hymn 124)

The privilege and power of prayer is one that is most exemplified in Jesus. In His darkest hour, even while the weary disciples dozed off, Jesus' was in fervent prayer. It is no coincidence that Paul exhorted us to "be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication" (v. 6) as a key ingredient of true peace from God. Peace that comes from the knowledge that there is a God that watches over His children, that is well aware of our circumstances, that has provided us ways out of our trials and temptations (c.f. 1Co 10:13), that has provided us the perfect solution to man's problems and prepared the heavenly inheritance for eternity.

2) Think good
True, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report. Such glorious and beautiful qualities that this strife-filled world has so often forgotten. As bro Patrick Swayne shared in on of his lessons, the problem is we seemed to be conditioned to bad reports! Just flip open the papers and we see much more often matters of misfortune, misconduct and controversy than that which is good and praiseworthy. God certainly tells us otherwise - "...if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (emphasis mine). Think of the good things! Ruminate upon them. As the proverb writer says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." (Pro 23:7a). In context, Pro 23 is talking about the wicked, yet all the same, it applies to the righteous. As Jesus taught us,  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good;" (Luk 6:45a). When we fill our hearts with godly, righteous thoughts and contemplations, where will we find room for worldly things of those especially that cast doubt and cause worry?

3) Just do it
Summarising in the conclusion of the section, Paul reveals the key to it all -  "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, DO...". As the famous Nike slogan goes - JUST DO IT! We can spend a lifetime in study, listening to the greatest lessons, esteem the best of role models, yet at the end of the day, if we do not put what we've learnt to practice, it is all but paper talk. As James exhorted the reader in multiple verses to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only" (Jam 1:22 ff). As with healthy thoughts, when we fill our lives with healthy, sound actions and habits it drives away idle and spiritually unproductive and yea even destructive practices (c.f. Luk 11:24-26), the latter which is the cause of unrest and turmoil.

Peace of God also comes alongside peace WITH God. Filling our lives with pleasing works to God is the only way that will ensure that we will be spared of God's wrath in the day of reckoning! Yea indeed we are saved for the very cause of doing His good will (Eph 2:10).

Brethren, let no one deceive us. Seek after true peace, the peace of God through Christ and His Word, which will keep our hearts and minds till the very end. And that is the only peace we can obtain, the only one that matters.

The Lord bless our day ahead.

in Him
Paul

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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ~ John 17:17

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. ~ John 20:30,31