THE PEACE OF CHRIST

THE PEACE OF CHRIST

Friday, July 31, 2020

  Philippians [MKJV Highlighting mine.] 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice! Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. Do those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be with you.

  1Peter [MKJV] 5:6-10 Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety onto Him, for He cares for you. Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour; whom firmly resist in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions in the world are being completed in your brotherhood. But the God of all grace, He calling us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, He will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Dear fellow travelers,

  I’m again thinking about the authentic personal freedom that Christ alone provides for our reliant accepting or independent rejecting unto remaining as we were. (Jn.3:1-18) This of course includes thinking about redemption’s inseparable companion, peace; without authentic personal peace there is no authentic personal freedom, without authentic personal freedom there is no authentic personal peace . . . all otherwise positions are an illusion of peace with freedom. Pax Romana was and Pax Americana is prime examples of “peace the world gives”. Closer to home, family, community, job – peace is strictly a judgment call centered in relative comparisons and incidental ambience.

  Jesus said “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. …  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. … Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.“ (From Jn.8:31-36; 14:27; 16:31-33)

  Can we say that we have the authentic personal freedom that Christ alone provides when our life is described by worry, anger, resentment, or angst? Can we say we enjoy authentic personal peace that Christ alone provides when our life is phobic?

  By the Word living and written the answer is no.

  The answer need not be negative. Trusting Christ for His authentic personal provision of peace with accompanying freedom makes for a life most positive.

  If you are living in and by Christ’ personal authentic peace and freedom I rejoice with you.

  If you have not yet trusted Christ for His great gifts, with others I am praying for you.

Sincerely,

Edwin Bennett Bullock 4th