The Peace of God – Philippians 4

A text – Philippians 4:1-9

4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
4:2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
4:3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
4:5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
4:6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
4:9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

A reflection:

The letter to the Philippians is a masterful plea by the Apostle Paul to a congregation that needs to share the mind of Christ. Right in the letter’s center is the Christ Hymn, a description of the Savior turning God-dom on its head, leaving the power of God behind and taking the form of a slave, willing to die in order to serve another, in order to lift the other up into communion with God.

In this chapter he repeats that plea directly to the congregation – he wants the congregational leaders and members to be gentle, to serve one another – so that everyone will know their gentleness – everyone in the whole town. He wants them not to worry, but to continually pray and give thanks. In short, he asks for this Christian community to emulate Christ and his embodiment of service to others so that the world can see them and, through their witness, know their God.

And it is from this letter that we get the amazing and familiar benediction: “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul is saying if we would just give up worrying, knowing we cannot control very much ourselves, and ask God for what we need, this amazing peace of God will guard us and keep our minds on Christ Jesus. It makes sense. Worry is what keeps us imprisoned in the problems we face. Prayer shares those problems with our generous heavenly father whom we thank for our blessings first and ask favors from second. The result of shedding worry, thanking God, and praying for help will be the peace that envelops us and focuses us on our savior. Shed worry, thank God, ask for help, receive peace that surpasses understanding.

Let’s do that.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for Paul’s advice to worriers since the first century AD. Help us to remember to follow those steps and trust you to grant us peace to see us through the hardest times. Help us to do those steps and teach them to our children and our friends, so we can help them rest in your love. Amen.