SCRIPTUREPhilippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, 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. 9 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.
10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 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.
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
OBSERVATION
There isn't a lot of peace in the world today, wars, weather catastrophes, the economy. But through all this and more Paul tells us that we can live above it all.
Paul was a Roman citizen and before his conversion he was a Pharisee, he was probably used to an affluent lifestyle. I am sure that it was a big change after his conversion, after wards he become a traveling preacher that had to rely on the people that he had won for Christ to donate financial support. From the world’s perspective he was "poor Paul he lost so much by following Jesus", but from Paul’s perspective he had never been better off or was he ever so content, he had real peace (verse 10-12).
...and the God of peace will be with you.
Paul connects the way that we live and the purity of our thoughts with how close to God we are and how much of his peace that we have.
The way that we live should include a thought life that is full of thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. The way that we live should reflect the way Paul lived and the things that he taught.
THEN we will be able to live with the peace of God that passes all understanding (verse 7).
APPLICATION
I will guard my thoughts and continue with my memory verses to help fill my head with your word.
PRAYER
I thank you Lord for the times that I lived with plenty and the times that I have lived with little. You are my source of peace no matter how well off I am.
