And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NIV
Guarding Peace
As the members of the G-7 prepared for their meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario last November, Canada’s foreign minister Anita Anand said the agenda would focus on issues including Arctic security, the war in Ukraine and securing peace in the Middle East. She said, “We have to be ambitious for the objective of long-lasting peace,” noting that as winter arrives, Canada and the G7 will be looking at how best to support the people of Ukraine via the energy infrastructure, food supply and longer-term reconstruction.
***
Peace in our world is so elusive. World leaders work hard to bring about peace between nations, often having any agreement fall apart. After the Second World War the United Nations was formed to guard the peace treaty that ended the war. Guarding the peace is often more challenging than making the peace. Not so in the Kingdom of God. When our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, gives us His peace, He guards it. Paul speaks to this in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In the Kingdom of God, Jesus provides a peace that can never be shaken. His resurrection is the guarantee that our salvation is secure and is the source of our peace – peace with God because our sin has been removed. And that peace, which can never be shaken, inexplicably guards our hearts no matter what life brings our way. No wonder Paul says it is beyond understanding, but all of us who have a genuine relationship with Jesus, have experienced that peace. Jesus has your heart – be at peace.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley