2. And the God of Peace (vv. 8-9) Paul closed this paragraph with the promise that God would be with them. God’s presence would guaran tee the perpetuation of His peace, but the promise of that presence is con ditioned on two things: their own thoughtlife (v. 8) and the continued practice of the lessons Paul had given them through his own example (v. 9). The two go hand in hand: “Keep thinking upon these things . . . keep practicing these things.” A peaceful heart, therefore, does not come by magic. How it can exist in such cir cumstances as those which surround ed Paul may be a mystery to some, but when once the secret is learned, it will be found that God fulfills the law of sound psychology. In verse 8 God’s garrison of peace is to stand guard over our thoughts as well as our hearts. We are to re ceive only those thoughts that He permits. But such is God’s respect for our own integrity as individuals that his guard cannot turn away the guests we welcome. Each of us de termines what he will think about, and God challenges us in this text to face up to that responsibility. “For as he thinketh within himself, so is he” (Prov. 23:7 ASV). The lovely virtues named in verse 8 gleam like pearls threaded on a gold en chain. These are the things to re flect upon: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honor able (of a nature to awaken rever ence), whatsoever things are just (right), whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue (moral excellence),-and if there be any praise, think on these things” (v. ASV). But it takes practice — not so much in long hours of contem plation as in down-to-earth living after the example so clearly set by Paul. “The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do (prac tice) : and the God of Peace shall be with you” (v. 9 ASV). III. T he L ove O ffering (w . 10-20) 32
Biola College student Ron Binder (left), president of the Missionary Union, pre sents Grady Parrott, Missionary Avia tion Fellowship president, with check for airplane as a gift from. Biola young people. careful study. As is so often the case, the prepositions reveal a wealth of meaning. “In everything” — nothing is too small, nothing too great, to lay before Him. The general word for “prayer” is particularized by the use of “requests,” which has about it the “cry of personal need.” Vine, “The use of the preposition “with” (from which our ‘mid’ is de rived) conveys the idea of an atmos phere of praise and thanksgiving in the midst of which we present our supplication. The picture in the preposition ‘before’ (‘unto’ in the King James version) is that of being face-to-face with God. In the con stant exercise of such a privilege there is small wonder that fears will flee and peace pervade the sanctuary of the human heart.” (3) Its might and mystery (v. 7). —The figure Paul uses in verse 7 re minds us of the words of Jesus: “When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace” (Luke 11:21 ASV). The peace of God is not of a negative quality. It is not soft with compro mise and appeasement. Toward the threat of Satan and all the minions of hell it is hard as nails; it is made up of the spikes of the cross and blood, and empty cerements of death, and a seal broken in defiance of im perial Rome. It is the peace of supe rior might, the calm of absolute ade quacy.
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