Athlete, Choose Peace
As we heard in our digital chapel this week the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians about the offer of peace through the Gospel. Philippi had an army base and would have been very familiar with conflict. The people knew what conflict was, they knew what strife was all about. Yet, it was in this same town that Paul encourages the people to choose peace amongst other things. Paul starts his letter out with these words:
"To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:1,2
Paul is writing this letter to a group of people who seemed to get distracted from their ultimate mission of loving God, loving others and making disciples. They started focusing on their circumstances, finding their confidence in their own efforts and began grumbling amongst each other.
As Paul caught wind of what was happening in this young church, he knew that their ultimate need wasn't a rebuke or a letter condemning them. He realized that what they needed is something that the world could never offer, peace. It's almost as if Paul is saying, "I see all you are going through and the truth is that you are focused on the wrong things, choose peace. Know that peace is available and that the Gospel itself is a declaration that peace is possible no matter what you are experiencing. Peace is an internal choice we choose, not an emotion we happen to feel."
What about you? Will you choose to experience and practice true and lasting peace? Today will you choose peace realizing that peace is not an elusive emotion we feel but a place we choose to live in?
"To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:1,2
Paul is writing this letter to a group of people who seemed to get distracted from their ultimate mission of loving God, loving others and making disciples. They started focusing on their circumstances, finding their confidence in their own efforts and began grumbling amongst each other.
As Paul caught wind of what was happening in this young church, he knew that their ultimate need wasn't a rebuke or a letter condemning them. He realized that what they needed is something that the world could never offer, peace. It's almost as if Paul is saying, "I see all you are going through and the truth is that you are focused on the wrong things, choose peace. Know that peace is available and that the Gospel itself is a declaration that peace is possible no matter what you are experiencing. Peace is an internal choice we choose, not an emotion we happen to feel."
What about you? Will you choose to experience and practice true and lasting peace? Today will you choose peace realizing that peace is not an elusive emotion we feel but a place we choose to live in?
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2019
May
Athlete, God CreatesAthlete, You're Made In His ImageAthlete, RestAthlete, RememberAthlete, God UnitesAthlete, Don't FallAthlete, Pain and Frustration Will EndAthlete, Stop ComparingAthlete, There Is No Middle RoadAthlete, Step Out In FaithAthlete, You're CleanAthlete, Know The CovenantAthlete, Know the NationsAthlete, Divisions ExistAthlete, God Makes PromisesAthlete, WaitAthlete, Location MattersAthlete, Who Is Melchizedek?Athlete, You Are IncludedAthlete, God Sees YouAthlete, God Gives Us Signs
June
Athlete, Be RemindedAthlete, Be Honest With GodAthlete, Reflect On His MercyAthlete, God Keeps CoveringAthlete, The Wait Is OverAthlete, God Tests Athlete, Put On The QualitiesAthlete, Be ChallengedAthlete, God works Evil For GoodAthlete, Glory is ComingAthlete, God Saves Messy PeopleAthlete, God Provides Athlete, God's in Control Athlete, God is PatientAthlete, Step Out in FaithAthlete, See the MarkersAthlete, Take Time to PrayAthlete, Let's Talk About Fresh StartsAthlete, Love is The CureAthlete, Grace is OffensiveAthlete, See the ForeshadowAthlete, Don't ForgetAthlete, God is NearAthlete, Are You Willing To Learn?Athlete, Give Thanks
July
Athlete, Cultivate IntimacyAthlete, Take ComfortAthlete, You Have An InheritanceAthlete, God Uses All of UsAthlete, ConfessAthlete, Don't DoubtAthlete, Make RoomAthlete, Ask Your QuestionsAthlete, Do Not ChargeAthlete, Be Aware of Resistance Athlete, Know Your HeartAthlete, Don't Be Stubborn Athlete, Trust JesusAthlete, Have Risky FaithAthlete, We Were Created For JoyAthlete, Understand the Already Not YetAthlete, What Are You TrustingAthlete, ReflectAthlete, You're a Royal Priest Athlete, PauseAthlete, Recognize His PresenceAthlete, Seek Justice
August
Athlete, Remember WITH not FORAthlete, David Wasn't Always PerfectAthlete, Confess to an Audience of OneAthlete, Be Honest With GodAthlete, Take NoteAthlete, Recognize the Preeminent OneAthlete, Put it to DeathAthlete, You Are Being RenewedAthlete, This is Your New UniformAthlete, Whatever You Do, Do It For JesusAthlete, Use A Different FormulaAthlete, We Are FamilyAthlete, You Have Three Deep NeedsAthlete, Fan The FlameAthlete, Start The FireAthlete, Know The AntidoteAthlete, Choose PeaceAthlete, Peace is a WeaponAthlete, It Was Not A Silent NightAthlete, This is How You Experience Peace
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