Daily Readings and Thought for April 9th. “THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING”

 The 3^rd & 4^th chapters of Philippians contain many thoughts for deep spiritual meditation – if we will read them in the right frame of mind.  There are also a good number of verses in Proverbs (Ch.19) today which contain principles which are very valuable in helping us meet the challenges of life in today’s world.  They all link in with our need for “the peace of God” in a world which knows no peace.

We especially noted these Proverbs.  “Good sense makes one slow to anger and it is his (or her) glory to overlook an offense.” [v.11]  “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future” [v.20]  “Many are the plans in the mind of a man (or woman), but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” [v.21]  “reprove a man of understanding and he will gain knowledge” [v.25] “Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge” [v17], to which we can add, cease to read the Bible and you will be engulfed in worldly pursuits and ambitions – which while not necessarily bad – are simply an end in themselves.

Paul’s words are parallel to some of these but more embracing of eternity, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ … that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” [Ch. 3 v.8,11]   That “any means possible” must include “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” and which “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” [Ch.4 v.7]  A component of that “peace” is rejoicing, but it is a spiritual rejoicing.  Paul stresses this, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice … the Lord is at hand, do not be anxious about anything.” [v.5,6]  Does that sound impossible?  So it is, but then again, we emphasize the words, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts”