Peace with God and the peace of God are entirely different things. The former is the result of the atoning work of Christ which we know has settled once and for ever every question between us, as sinners, and a holy God. The resurrection of Christ is deeply important in this connection. It demonstrates God’s satisfaction with the work of Christ done for His glory, as also the clearance of the believing sinner, for in accepting and glorifying the One who has done the work He clearly accepts the work done. But as that work was not done for Himself, but for others, it follows that those who receive the benefit of that work, viz those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, stand in all the acceptance of that work and of the Person who performed it. So we read of Christ “who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:25, 5:1).
The peace of God is rest of heart and mind in connection with the wilderness circumstances which we pass through. For the description of it, and the way to possess it, you must turn to Philippians 4:4-7. There you find three things necessary for its enjoyment.
1. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (v. 4).
2. “Let your moderation [gentleness, yieldingness] be known to all men. The Lord is at hand” (v. 5).
3. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (v. 6).
And the blessed result is, “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (v. 7).
To recapitulate:
1. Right relation to the Lord.
2. Right relation to all men.
3. Right relation to God.
And this in connection with our circumstances here.
1. To begin with, our joy must be in the Lord. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Not rejoicing in our circumstances, but in the Lord. If we rejoice in our circumstances we shall lean on a broken reed; for circumstances change, but the Lord does not. He is “the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.”
The circumstances of the inspired writer were such as to give great weight to his exhortation, for they certainly yielded no joy. Four years in prison, chained to a soldier, such was Paul’s lot and certainly this was not calculated to make a man cheerful. Yet the letter written by him to the Philippians is filled with joy and rejoicing. Joy in circumstances, after all, would only be natural joy, whereas rejoicing in the Lord is spiritual. May the reader keep this exhortation ever before him, as much, if not more, on bright days as cloudy days, for dark days drive us to the Lord, whilst bright ones may allure us fom Him. It is easier to carry an empty cup than a full one.
2. Then in our relation to all men we are to show a gentle, yielding spirit. If I am for ever standing on my dignity and rights, I shall be continually getting ruffled; whereas if I seek to show to all the grace and gentleness of Him who had right and title to everything and who claimed nothing, I shall walk through this world in the serenity that marked Him.
Moreover, “the Lord is at hand.” His coming draws near. Then all the wrongs will be put right. At present the believer is not of this world, as his Master was not of it. He has been rejected and cast out. He waits for His rights. We wait for our portion with Him.
3. Then in relation to God we are exhorted to two things.
First, “Be careful for nothing.” That does not mean being careless as to anything. We are expected to exercise sufficient, proper, and sensible foresight; but it means we are not to be unduly weighed down with care in the attempt to carry what God would carry for us. There are circumstances beyond our control. The way out is a difficulty we cannot overcome in our own strength. Then leave it with God. He will undertake if we leave all with Him in the sense of His interest and care. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you,” is written in another place.
Second, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” “In everything.” This covers all the circumstances of our path. It takes in the greatest anxiety as well as the smallest detail. It embraces circumstances over which we have no control and those into which we have been brought by our own folly and sin. Now God’s government must stand. But even here a repentant child may bring his prayer and supplication, and obtain an answer of grace. We are encouraged to make known our requests to God. “Our requests.” We are to do it by prayer. Aye, and even if pressure is great and a request much desired, we are exhorted to supplication—something more intense and importunate than prayer.
Further, we are directed to let it all be “with thanksgiving”—thanks before the answer is given. Why? We may not always get our requests granted, but we shall always have an answer of wisdom and grace. The request may be granted, or modified, or altered, or refused. In each case love is equally at work with wisdom to give us an answer that suits us best. We may not think so. God knows best. And what will be the issue to those who are thus exercised?
1. Rejoicing in the Lord but not in circumstances.
2. Gentle to all men. “The Lord is at hand.”
3. Resting in a sense of God’s tender care, making known our requests with thanksgiving.
What will be the happy outcome of all this?
“The peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’
This peace passes all understanding. The child of God will often wonder how his heart is kept in perfect serenity amid circumstances calculated to harass the worldling into his grave.
“Shall keep your hearts and minds.” It has been well translated—“Shall guard your hearts and thoughts.” It is as if you were besieged and straitly shut up in some walled city by a powerful and vindictive foe; but the garrison that surrounds the wall is so vigilant and capable that you are as much at rest as if there were no enemy at all. That would surpass all understanding.
Christianity is a triumph from start to finish. Would that we practised it more!