Notice the order of divine blessing given in verse two. Grace always comes before peace. Until we receive God’s free gift of His Son, we can never know real peace or sins forgiv en. God has provided everything neces sary to move the barriers between man and Himself which were caused by sin. Once we are the recipient of MY KIND OF PEOPLE Since I came to know the Saviour I have made some Christian friends; Not the kind who only want you 'Till your fame and money ends. They don't have too high a rating With the crowd who live in sin, But they are my kind of people. Sanctified and born again. They just love to talk of Jesus And to praise and testify; And they're not ashamed to witness Of their faith in God on High. They believe the Holy Bible; Not the modernistic crowd. For they're satisfied and happy. And their prayers are clear and loud. You won't find my kind of people Where the church is bottle fed; Or if someone shouted 'Amen' That the preacher might drop dead. But where God has His choice servant, Though His helpers may be few, Ev'ryday, they're hoping, longing That the Lord will break the blue. Yes, I love these kind of people Who have found redeeming grace, Who are citizens of Heaven, And someday who'll take their place With the saved of all the ages In the courts of God above; I am proud that all these people Are the people that I love. — Walt Huntley His grace, by personally trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, from that point on we may enjoy the peace of God “which passeth all understanding.” The word “joy” represents all of the inner happiness and blessing which belongs to a Christian. It is the cen tral doctrine of this epistle. Any Chris tian, regardless of his circumstances, difficulties, adversities, trials, heart
aches, frustrations, or problems, can have absolutely perfect peace. Pros perity, or lack of it, cannot disturb this whatsoever. In verse three Paul tells the Philip- pians, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” In all of Paul’s writings, regardless of his personal circumstances, we find him continually thankful. The reason for this is be cause “all things work together for good.” He has learned that in whatso ever state he might be he must needs be content. He knows how to be abased and he knows how to abound. He knows how to take every situation in life because his happiness is not de pendent on outward circumstances. To be able to say, and to mean it in the heart, that we are thankful for the memories of others is a very solemn thought. Paul thinks of believers whom he has known in the past at Philippi. Every time they flash across his “mind’s eye” he praises the Lord. Do you have anyone who might be thankful for you? Is the thought of you a good or a bad memory for oth ers? Are people filled with disgust and distaste when your name is brought up? No doubt someone is thinking about you today. Are you a pleasant or an unpleasant memory? Notice the constant attitude of fel lowship as Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declares in verse four, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.” There is the key word of the epistle, “joy.” This is not based on having things, or in being related to people, or in an ability to exert power and influence, but rather it is a tran quillity which comes only to the one who is born-again, utilizing the divine operating assets which God has given liberally. Paul was a prayer warrior. He carried on his intercessory min istry constantly and daily. Prayer re moved the barrier of space. Have you personally received the Son of God as your Saviour? Have you trusted Him? If you have not, I urge you to make this personal decision now, as the Scripture states, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!”
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