[This post can be read aloud in 4 min. or less.]
Philippians: Shine Like Stars – DAY 52
Family Discussions for Advent
*For a menu of all days, click here.
DAY 52/MONDAY
Philippians 4:6-7
Peace With God
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
*Click here to read the ESV, NLT, & CSB.
We’re continuing to follow along with the weekly themes of Christmas Advent — hope, peace, joy, love, & Christ — in light of our Philippians focus verses this month.
May our families shine like stars as we hold firmly to the word of life this Christmas celebration season!
Advent: Peace
In Philippians 4:6-7, being anxious is the opposite of having peace.
anxious:
| “The word anxious has generally been used to describe when someone is very concerned about something. In medical terms, to be anxious means feeling uneasy and worried but not always with a specific focus.” |
| 1. characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency; worried |
| 2. characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety; worrying |
| Kids Definition: afraid or nervous about what may happen; worried |
Being anxious involves uneasy thoughts & fearful feelings, especially about what the future holds.
Having peace involves guarding your mind against uneasy thoughts & your heart against fearful feelings about what the future holds… because you know Who holds the future.
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Bill & Gloria Gaither
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!”
Peace with God
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)
Even when we are anxious, we have peace with God. It may not feel like it, but if you have been justified through faith in Christ and stand in His grace because of this same faith in Christ, you have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of Christ, your sin no longer separates you from a holy God. You are no longer God’s enemy, but His adopted child. Hallelujah!
Last week’s advent emphasis was hope. Those of us who have this peace with God through Christ can “boast in the hope of the glory of God”! The glory of God in this context is something we will experience in the future.
“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Colossians 3:4 (NIV)
“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
II Thessalonians 2:13-14 (NIV)
Peace with God is really the only peace we need. All other peace comes from it. God holds your future in His hands — if you have peace with Him, you’re good! As I mentioned above, it doesn’t always feel like “we’re good” and everything’s fine. Sometimes anxiety-producing thoughts fill our days & nights. This doesn’t change the fact that we are good with God and have peace with Him & secure eternal futures, but it does make living it out much more difficult. We will explore biblical ways for dealing with that kind of peace-stealing anxiety in the next post.
DAY 52/MONDAY Hymn
I quoted part of the hymn “Because He Lives” toward the middle of this post. Now I want to share all the lyrics with you. This hymn has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. My sister even sang it at my children’s baby dedications. Please read (or sing!) and let the truth of the words sink in. [I’ve also included a music video link below.]
“Because He Lives”
Bill & Gloria Gaither (1971)
God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he brings;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
And then one day, I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He [reigns] lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
*You can read the lyrics while you play the video if you select “CC,” closed captions.
DAY 52: We can have peace with God & the peace of God.