Atmosphere of Life

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be know to all men. The Master is near. Do not worry at all, but in every matter, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to Elohim. And the peace of Elohim, which surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Messiah Jesus. For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is righteous, whatever is clean, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any uprightness and if there is any praise -- think on these. And what you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, practice these, and the Elohim of peace shall be with you." Philippians 4:4-9 The Scriptures

I have chosen to use another translation today and to put the entire passage here for us to consider. We will concentrate on the last verse.

Once again, the emphasis is to follow the course of action and not try to find a "short-cut" to by-pass the elements involved. I am like most people, I would like a quick and easy way to get things done in me. However, the only quick avenue is when we receive Jesus. That is usually a quick work and a work that very effectually changes us in every aspect. However, as we learn to co-operate in Him, we find there are processes for our change. The human heart does turn and change, but the Lord knows best how to do that without damage. So it is often slowly accomplished. In this "how-to" the work may seem slow, but if we apply our hearts here, our thought patterns and our immediate thoughts begin to change into those that bring life. This is what we are after - for ourselves and for those we know.

So after we have followed and are thinking in "life," the peace we so desperately long for, that peace which allows us to rest and receive, that peace -- is given. It comes as we follow the examples of being life and producing life given to us in the Word. This, like the "peace of God" given in verse 7, is a supernatural placement that is given - not acquired - given. But it is given as a result of following and allowing ourselves to be placed in an atmosphere of life flow.

At first this seems like a contradiction - we must follow first, but then something is given. They are connected. Our "following" or obedience is our co-operative action with and in the empowerment of the Lord. As I choose to follow - He empowers such and that unlocks for us the placement into peace. It  is all the results of inter-action -- not one's own efforts. This brings me much comfort for I know humanly speaking my "following" is flawed, but in Jesus it is not flawed, it is empowered and that brings me and others into the placement of grace and all the goodness of a marvelous God!