“In” But Not “Of”

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Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.     --Philippians 4:4-6 God is peace. That is an old and simple statement that never loses its truth or power. Peace is a soothing word that makes me think of the ability to remain calm even in the middle of a storm. In fact, you may have seen the famous picture of a storm raging on the sea with the winds blowing and the waves crashing on a big rock that stands alone in the middle of the ocean. And when you look closer, you see a little bird nestled safely in that rock. Now that’s a picture of true peace! The kind of peace Paul writes about in today’s verse. This kind of peace is not an absence of problems or storms, but it is God’s preserving presence in the midst of the storm! That’s why Paul said this peace passes all human understanding. I don’t believe you can fully describe God’s peace. You can sense it, you can own it, but it’s almost impossible to articulate it. But it is that God gives us just when we need it most. Just when you need a verse, He brings it to mind. Just when you need a friend; He brings one into your life.  God will flood your heart with peace if you let Him. Is your life characterized by peace? As a child of God it should be. God knows you and loves you with an everlasting love. That’s why He gives you His indescribable peace. Peace is not the absence of storms, but God’s presence in the midst of the storm! “In” But Not “Of” by Joyce Meyer - posted July 11, 2016 I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world. —John 17:14 The verse for today teaches us that as believers we are in the world but not of the world, which means that we cannot take a worldly view of things. Not becoming like the world in our ways and attitudes requires constant vigilance. Watching too much graphic violence in the form of entertainment, as happens in the world, can sear or harden our consciences and reduce our sensitivity to God's voice. Many people in the world today are desensitized to the agonies real people suffer because they see tragedies portrayed so often on television. The news media frequently delivers negative reports or tragic stories in unemotional, matter-of-fact ways and we often see and hear these things without feeling. We hear of so many terrible things that we no longer respond to it with the appropriate emotions of compassion or outrage we should display. I believe these things are part of Satan's overall plan for the world. He wants us to become hard-hearted and unengaged emotionally when we become aware of horrible events that take place around us. He does not want us to care about those affected by such things. But, as Christians, we should care, we should feel, and we should pray. Whenever we hear about what is happening in the world, we should ask God for His perspective and inquire as to how He wants us to respond. We then need to listen for His response and act accordingly. This is one way we can be in the world but not of the world. God’s word for you today: Take a stand for godly values and never compromise.