Philippians: Rejoice in the Lord – part 6

Author : Keith Sharp
Devotional study of Philippians

The Peace of God (1)

I used to hear my dad, the consummate “eternal optimist,” castigate those “born in the objective case and the kickative mood and weaned on a sour pickle.” The anxious, grouchy disposition of many Christians drives others away from Christ. Some suppose saintliness and a sad, sour spirit are synonymous. How tragic! Christians of all people should have peace and joy (Philippians 4:4,7). In Philippians chapter four we learn how to have peace and joy in all life’s situations. This is through the secure mind (Philippians 4:6-7).

The Christian’s peace and joy is from God (Philippians 4:7). Four keys unlock the door to discover this hidden treasure of unsurpassed value.

Be Right with the Lord.We must be right with the Lord. In verses 1-4, the phrase “in the Lord” occurs three times (verses 1,2,4), “in the gospel” once (verse 3) and “in the Book of Life” once (verse 3). Our peace and joy are “in the Lord,” by means of the gospel because our names are “in the Book of Life.” If our lives are not right with God, we should feel anxious and guilty, for we are guilty and our lot is eternal condemnation.

We get into the Lord in the same way the jailer of Philippi did. We must have the right attitude, the desire to know how to be saved (Acts 16:30), hear the word of the Lord, believe in Christ and be baptized into Him (Acts 16:31-33). Then we, as the jailer, can rejoice in our salvation (Acts 16:34).

To maintain this peace and joy we must “stand fast in the Lord.” (Philippians 4:1)

Be Right with Others.We must be right with others. “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5) The King James Version renders the word “gentleness” as “moderation,” i.e., reasonableness. W.E. Vine defines the term as “sweet reasonableness.” (2:117) A selfish person only sees his own side of a dispute. He doesn’t try to get along. Rather than experiencing peace and joy, he is constantly embroiled in turmoil and bitterness.

We should be gentle because “The Lord is at hand,” i.e., “near” (verse 5), to see our actions, hear our words and know our motives (Hebrews 4:13) and to help us when others wrong us (Hebrews 13:6).

Pray.We must pray. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God….” (Philippians 4:6) To be “anxious” is “to be troubled with cares.” (J.H. Thayer. 400) There is a refuge from sleepless, troubled nights of worry and anxiety. Talk to God in prayer. Plead with Him to lift your burden. Thank Him for all His wonderful blessings. Trust Him to solve your problem in His time and in His way. Then, “leave it there.” (Read “Leave It There,” # 235, Sacred Selections).

There are two things we should never worry about. Never be anxious about that which we can do something about – do something about it! Never worry over that which we can do nothing about – pray!

Think Right.We must think right.

Finally, 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.(Philippians 4:8)

Noble things are “honorable, worthy.” (Arndt and Gingrich. 754) Things that are lovely are “pleasing, agreeable.” (Ibid. 727) Virtue is “moral excellence.” (Ibid. 73)

Don’t be guilty of “stinkin’ thinkin’.” Too many Christians allow their minds to dwell on slights and injuries, real or imagined, pressing problems, uncertainties of life, even morally unclean desires. We can control what we meditate on. “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head; but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” You can’t keep a thought from fleeting through your head, but you don’t have to embrace it. Stinkin’ thinkin’ causes us to become worried, irritable, depressed and sinful. Right meditation draws us closer to Christ. Stinkin’ thinkin,’ makes us turn others away from the Lord. When we meditate on things that are good and upright, others are attracted to Christ through us.

Paul’ manner of life, along with the examples of those who followed him, constitutes a pattern for our lives (Philippians 4:9). What an impression he made on a prison full of lawless thugs as he and Silas “were praying and singing hymns to God” while enduring painful, humiliating, unjust persecution (Acts 16:25).

If we are right with the Lord, right with other people, praying and thinking right, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard” our “hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) Humanistic psychiatry and psychology can offer no peace and joy to guard the heart and mind from the anxiety and guilt which steal peace and joy. True mind guarding peace and joy are found only in the Lord.

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Works Cited

Arndt, W.F. and F.W. Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
Thayer, J.H. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
Vine, W.E. An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.