0629 PEACE OF CHRIST

JUNE 28 = PHILIPPIANS 4

PEACE OF CHRIST

By now, you know how much I love the blessing, “Peace of Christ.” It is a shorthand way of saying an entire paragraph of words, delivered in love and raining down blessings on the person to whom it is said. We “pass the peace” before we celebrate the feast, and thus ensure that no one is held back at the table.

So, what does it mean? How do I achieve the peace of Christ? How do we as a church maintain the peace of Christ in our midst? I’m glad you asked! This closing chapter of Philippians has several really well-known verses, and they all point to the peace of Christ.

HOW TO HAVE PEACE: BE OF THE SAME MIND

“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 

These two women had “contended at my side in the cause of the gospel.” But something had come between them, and their tension was becoming known. You know how it works; someone hears one side of the issue and they take up an offense for her. Another person hears the other side and do the same. And so the church becomes divided, just as the two sisters have become divided. The peace of Christ has been compromised, and the church is affected. They need to get on the same page, and they need to let the church know, or the peace of Christ is compromised.

How to do that? Different translations word it quite differently (ironically!): “Be of the same mind.” “Agree in the Lord.” “Live in harmony in the Lord.” “Make up your differences as Christians should.” Here’s what I think helps: back up to the point where you are in agreement and acknowledge that you both want the same thing at that level. From there, you may have different opinions about how to achieve it, but you are of the same mind about what each of your plans are accomplishing.

For example: Let’s say one is trying to write a podcast, while the other is reorganizing shelves in the house. They disagree on what to do at any given moment: “Let me finish this sentence so I don’t . . .” (Not sure how that was going to end.) But the other replies, “I am standing on a step stool, sneezing from dust. Bring them right away.” So back up and see what you both want. You want Jesus to be honored in your lives and in your home. So you clear space for hospitality. And you tell others about the peace of Christ. Agreed. Let’s help each other. Who goes first?

HOW TO HAVE PEACE: REJOICE!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

A short command, repeated for emphasis. I will say it again: It is repeated for emphasis. Rejoice! In the Lord! Always! Always! Don’t let the individual responsibilities worry you, or the disagreements among you divide you, or the persecution from outside cause you to give in to fear. Rejoice! It comes from a place of faith that transcends these light and momentary troubles. And you will know the peace of Christ.

HOW TO HAVE PEACE: BE GENTLE

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

Be gentle. In fact, be gentle in such a way that outsiders can see it. That family members would agree that it is there. That the church is filled with gentleness, even in the hardest of situations. And if you struggle with it, remember that the Lord is near. He is here to help you see the big picture and to be gentle enough for the peace of Christ to reign in your hearts.

HOW TO HAVE PEACE: PRAY

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Anxiety can block peace. What is the solution? Pray, and begin your prayer with thanksgiving, as we have seen that Paul always does. And then word that anxiety as a petition or a request to God. If you can’t sleep because of anxiety, tell it to Jesus, and hand it over to God. He’s going to be up all night, anyway. Give it to him for the night.

And that’s when the “peace of God” will guard your heart and your mind. And if all of us do the same, then the peace will guard all of our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. And Paul says that this peace of God “transcends all understanding.” There are things in the spiritual realm that go way beyond intellect and doctrine. So when we give up on trying to find the solution to whatever is bothering us, we find that in the spiritual realm we have a peace we can’t explain.

HOW TO HAVE PEACE: DWELL ON ONLY THE GOOD

And now Paul continues in that mode of controlling our thoughts. He says to discipline our minds by only allowing ourselves to think about these eight things:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

If all of us will permit ourselves to think only about these things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, then “the God of peace will be with us.” You are what you think,” you might say.

HOW TO HAVE PEACE: BE CONTENT

Paul says he has learned the secret to being content in any and every situation. Really. Any situation. And he had been in every situation for the cause of Christ. 

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 

But you say, that may work for Paul, but he had unusual resolve and drive. I don’t think I could do what he did. Paul’s answer is simple: You can. Do you want to? Because you can do all things through him who gives you strength. 

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

We need peace among us. God will supply that need among us. Just do as he advises and lives out: Agree. Rejoice. Be gentle. Pray. Think. Be content. And the God of peace will be with us. Amen.