Peace of God and God of Peace

Relevant Bible Verses

1) Phil 4:6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

2) Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every man’s understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

3) Phil 4:8-9 Finally, brothers, what things are true, what things are dignified, what things are righteous, what things are pure, what things are lovely, what things are well spoken of, if there is any virtue and if any praise, take account of these things. The things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you.

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“Easier said than done”, is a statement made on something seems like a good idea but it would be difficult to do in practice.

In Phil 4:6, it mentions that we should not be worried and anxious about anything in our life but instead by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God. Then the Peace of God, which surpasses all our understanding, will guard our hearts and our thoughts in Christ Jesus.

But are we completely free from anxiety after surrendering our worries to God in prayer? I am sure many will still have anxiety and worries, albeit reduced, after letting our requests be made known to God. This is due to our half heartedness believing in God’s blessing and promises. There must be a genuine total surrender both in reality and practicality in trusting the Lord to completely free us from anxiety.

As believers, we should not only think on the things mentioned in verse 8; we should also practice the things which we have learned, received, heard, seen and read in the scriptures.

In verse 9, it closed with the word, “And the God of Peace shall be with you.” Actually, this is both the promise and blessing of God. The God of Peace is the source of all the good things mentioned in Phil 4:8-9.

Our Lord is both the Peace of God and God of Peace. Therefore, by trusting the Lord in all aspects of our life we shall gain to enjoy God and Peace at the same time.

Pressing Toward the Goal

Relevant Bible Verses:-

1) Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

2) Phil 3:13 Brothers, I do not account of myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do: Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before,

3) Phil 3:14 I pursue toward the goal for the prize to which God in Christ Jesus has called upward. Let us therefore, as many as are full-grown, have this mind; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, this also God will reveal to you. Nevertheless whereunto we have attained, by the same rule let us walk.
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I have been pretty busy lately and was not able to up-date my blog. But I know I have a "race" to run for the ultimate goal. This article is probably issued at the most appropriate timing as I am also in the "race" along with many Christians around the world. Therefore, we must all "press on".

Even though Paul had experienced and gained Christ exceptionally, he was not afraid to admit he was still struggling to attain the full knowledge of Christ in perfection. However, despite of his imperfection, he continued to encourage the believers to focus on the race in Christ (Phil 3:12).

As Christians, pursuing after Christ should and must be our life primary goal. We cannot be otherwise minded. Walking closer with God will not only make us understand and discern what is right and what is wrong and what is imperative, but will also allow God to align our mind to His centre core economy plan, a mind focused on the pursuing of Christ.

This attractive and deceptive material world can easily distract many Christians from focusing on God’s goal. We need to pursue God’s unique goal and His plan for us so that we will not be distracted, holding on to the unshakable foundation of truth. In Phil 3:13, Paul warned us of the danger of holding on to the “things of the past”. Dwelling on our past experiences can frustrate us from moving forward to the things which are before us.

Lets us continue to pursue toward God’s unique goal and the prize – Christ for our ultimate enjoyment and full knowledge of Christ in maturity.