Weekly Devotion
February 20, 2012
MAY THE GOD OF PEACE BE WITH YOU
I read a story recently that made me smile and set me to thinking. One dark rainy night a salesman had a flat tire on a lonely road. But to his dismay he had no lug wrench. Seeing a nearby farmhouse, he set out on foot. Surely the farmer would have a lug wrench, he thought. But would he even come to the door? And if he did, he’d probably be furious at being bothered. He’s say, “What’s the big idea getting me out of bed in the middle of the night?” This thought made the salesman angry. Why, that farmer is a selfish old clod to refuse to help me. Finally the man reached the house. Frustrated and drenched, he banged on the door. “Who’s there?” a voice called out from a window overhead.
“You know good and well who it is,” yelled the salesman, his face red with anger. “It’s me! And you can keep your old lug wrench! I wouldn’t borrow it is it was the last one in the county.” Daily Bread.
Many of our problems are not as bad as we think they are. But they often times become worse because we think they are so bad. We mull them over, and dwell on them, and pretty soon in our minds we are losing any sense of proportion or reality. Soon little things have escalated into huge things. Soon we feel terrible, or angry, or hurt or discouraged.
Why does it work that way? Well, what we tell ourselves may not always be objective or realistic, but it is powerful. The way we program our minds shapes us.
Paul knew that when he wrote to the Philippian church. He knew that they were going through some rough times. Some in the church weren’t getting along. Most everyone was worried about Paul being in prison, and what would happen to him. There was the underlying tension between Jews and Christians, and between those who followed Jesus and those who didn’t. There was a lot to be discouraged about. There was a lot to be worried about. No one would blame them if their thoughts were a little on the dark side.
But on the other hand, did they have anything to be encouraged about? Well, there was the whole God-sent-His-Son-to-die-for-us-so-that-we-might-have-life thing. They had better things ahead of them. They had the Holy Spirit sustaining and encouraging them.
They had a lot to worry about, and a lot to be excited and thankful about. The only real question was which one would occupy their minds. Paul told them, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)
In other words- program your mind with the right things. If your mind is filled with the things of God, that doesn’t mean that all your problems will be solved. It means that the God of peace will be with you.
THIS AND THAT
Next week’s sermon will come from Romans 2:25-29. In this passage Paul talks about what it means to have a true heart for God……. BIG THANKS to all of our small group leaders and hosts. This is all the FISH groups, Women’s bible study leaders, youth leaders, AWANA and Children’s church leaders. There are a lot of people around here who do a great job teaching and encouraging others by opening their homes for small groups. Thank you…….. Sometime this week read Philippians 4, one of the greatest chapters in the New Testament.
Pastor Chris
