The Devotional - 003 - Peace with God and man

A Thought for the Day – 003 – Peace with God and man

Let your gentleness be known to all men, the LORD is at hand – Philippians 4:5

 

Comments and challenges

More important is this verse of scripture to you and me than we know; it is also an easy verse of scripture to place in the soul. By the way the truth of this verse needs to be resident in the soul, since if it just committed to memory it becomes a religious work and not the true expression of our citizenship in heaven that the apostle Paul, as an example relates to in 3 verses 17 – 21. Then we have these early verses in chapter 4 that give testimony to the labor of the gospel by Paul’s companions. (true disciples)

When I was saved in May of 1975 it was as if God had placed me into a wonderful wonderland of peace. Peace with Him and peace with everyone whom He placed in my path. (Now what I am saying is TRUE) as I know that some in our current troubling world will be prone to scoff. “Rejoice in the LORD always. Again I will say, rejoice!” In those days gone by the people of God enjoyed being His children, they REJOICED in the LORD because the LORD was at hand.

Today, living in heavenly citizenship and witnessing for Christ in our sanctified heart is no longer visible and sadly it is not visible in the churches of our homeland. It is not visible in our homes, communities or in the work place. We only go through the motions of living a sanctified life and as a result we look to the world around us like a dried out baked turkey without the seasoning or stuffing to cause the hunger pangs that the starving soul needs.

Christians; and I do not use that word loosely so let us take a look at Acts 11:26 “And when he had found him (Barnabas) he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. If you call yourself a Christian in the true sense of the word expressed here, then you are a Disciple of Christ and if you lump yourself in the ecumenical term applied my most religions well… shame on you.

So here again is the RUB! “Be anxious (careful or worried) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Truly I can understand the sorrow in the apostle’s heart in Philippians 3:18 and I need to say that I am as guilty (at times) as the next. “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.”

Our nation is failing and will not recover to the days of old. As “believers in Christ” our citizenship is in heaven; if we do not come together in gentleness to all and if we do not understand that the LORD is at hand and if we do not rejoice in the LORD as we ought, we will be disbursed in every direction and only the disciples will be left; Christians that is! Well it will come to that won’t it! Scripture verifies that only a remnant remains, disciples that is! Let your gentleness be made known to all men, the LORD is at hand. Rejoice in the LORD always, and again I say rejoice. Philippians 4:4-5. Two short but powerful verses of scripture to place in your soul.