ate tensions rather than peace. In our speed age, we try to get to places faster and to rush to other places as soon as we leave. A tight work schedule drains our ener gies. Tension tightens. Yet peace of soul was Christ’s legacy to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giv- eth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). This peace, as Henry Drummond de fined it, “is the perfect poise of the soul, the absolute adjustment of the inner man to the stress of all outward things; the prepared ness against every emergency: the stability of assured convic tions; the eternal calm of an in vulnerable faith; the repose of a heart set deep in God.” This peace is ab id in g . No change in events or circumstances need disturb it. It remains in spite of the storms of life. Peace is a gift of the unchang ing God. He can guard us from any disturbing force that must hurt us. He can speak the word that will relieve us of opposition and persecution. He can give peace, not only in spite of but by means of adverse circumstances. The days that precede Christ’s return will be most difficult. We need peace. E a r th ’s fiercest storms can drive us to Heaven’s most perfect peace. As we see the Apostle Paul on his knees, we are guided in our intercession for our fellow-Chris- tians. We ask God that their lives may be molded by Scripture; that through love they may be estab lished in holiness; that they may serve God faithfully to the limits of their ability; that they may enjoy the peace of God in a trou bled world. We may not have long to make this intercession. Jesus’ last mes sage to us is: “Surely I come quickly.” Our prayer is: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22: 20). Until that day we seek God’s richest blessing on all our fellow- Christians. BE
Him. J. B. Phillips’ translation makes this clear: May God “ef fect in you all that your faith makes possible.” God alone can make our serv ice effective yet we are to strive to give acceptable service. We work; yet God works. We have the responsibility; God gives the power. As Paul put it: “God . . . worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). So we work “according to the grace of . . . God.” For such service Paul prays for power. Though the most skilful service without God’s power can fail, the simplest act that He uses can bring unmeasured blessing. While without Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5) ; yet through Christ we can do all things (Phil. 4:13). As many Christians are deeply engrossed in business affairs, the call for us to serve Him becomes louder. Knowledge of Christ’s re turn gives a note of urgency to all Christian service. Remembering the time is short inspires us to work while it is day. In business and in our neighborhoods we meet people whose ignorance of Christ’s Second Coming makes them unprepared for it. The field is white unto harvest. Again, there is need for us to enjoy peace as we work for the Lord. Paul’s final prayer i s : “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means” (II Thess. 3:16). The Thessalonian Christians so re ly needed peace then. The world’s opposition harassed them. Relent less persecution would soon cre ate an army of martyrs. Dissen sion was in the church; many would soon withdraw from Chris tian fellowship. We pray for our fellow-Chris- tians that they may know the peace of God, however trying their circumstances or difficult their position. Stress and strain attack all. Neither age nor position guar antees immunity from them. Our personal resources are not suffi cient to meet the day’s needs. Con ditions in our modern world cre
the world was free from compro mise. Is such blamelessness possible? The Almighty Lord could present them “before his glory without fault” (Jude 24 Phillips). We are to cultivate holiness with both eyes on Christ's return; to be “unblameable in holiness be fore God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” The doctrine of Christ’s Second Advent has a sanctifying effect. The certainty and imminence of the Lord’s re turn form a powerful appeal for holy living. Also, increasing spiritual ma turity will lead to effective serv ice for God. Paul prays “that our God would count you worthy of this calling” (II Thess. 1:11). God’s approval of which Paul speaks w ill be e x p r e s sed in Christ’s verdict at the judgment seat of Christ. While all worthi ness comes of God’s grace, we are responsible for using God’s gift aright. Paul continues: “And fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with pow er.” Paul was keen that the Thessalonians should preach the gospel to the heathen around them and preach to them success fully. We pray for our fellow-Chris- tians that they may seize every opportunity to serve the Lord and may do their work effectively. Every Christian can do some act of service for Christ. The God who creates our talents, also cre ates our opportunities to use them. Work for God is valid only when rightly motivated. Paul re fers to Christian s e r v ic e as “every desire of goodness and every work of faith” (ASV). Goodness is the spirit that aims at the well-being of those we serve. Then whether there is hu man recognition or not, the Chris tian worker has succeeded. Our service must be inspired by the faith that God wants us to serve Him and will bless our work for
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