Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
After Leading Someone to Christ
I have never felt such joy and peace as after leading someone to the Savior, with the understanding, however, that it is God Who saves them (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 3:6b). Let me put it this way: It takes a man of God with the Word of God with the Spirit of God to make the children of God for the glory of God. Of course, you insert a woman of God in that, too. My point is that salvation is fully a work of God, but we can share the gospel with the lost in the hopes that the seed of the Word takes root (Matt 13:8). It’s not our responsibility to save them; it is their response to His ability. But it is our responsibility to tell them (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Even when the seed doesn’t take root immediately, perhaps I have watered what someone else has sown or have fertilized someone else’s labor. But God is the God of the harvest (1 Cor 3:6; John 4:38); I’m not. We may never see the root and the fruit, but, surely, even in failed attempts, there is nothing that produces more peace than after leading someone to Christ or in sharing the gospel. In fact, it is more than peace; it brings joy!
Funeral of a Believer
I have had funerals of unbelievers, and these are the hardest funerals of all to do, but for those who have repented and put their trust in Christ, there is such joy and peace that follows because we know it’s not goodbye–it’s see you later! We know that those who have passed from this life to eternal life are finally at peace and in the presence of the Lord, so there is great peace for believers to know that they’ll see their loved ones again. We don’t grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13). Yes, we do grieve, and that’s not only normal, it’s healthy, but we have more peace after their passing than those who have died without Christ.
The Peace of God
When we were still enemies of God (Rom 5:10) and wicked sinners (Rom 5:8), we rejoiced when we were finally saved because then we were finally at peace with God by the free gift of Christ’s justification (Rom 5:1). At that point, there wasn’t any more condemnation because of Christ’s death for us (Rom 8:1). Shouldn’t that give you the peace that surpasses all human understanding (Phil 4:7a)? That peace can guard our hearts and minds (Phil 4:7b). Is there any greater peace than to know that you have passed from death to life (John 5:24; I John 3:14)?
A Closing Prayer
Great God in Heaven, oh Father, you are so kind to send Your Son to die for me when I truly deserved Your wrath (John 3:36b). But You placed Your wrath on Your Son so that I wouldn’t have to bear it, and for this I thank you and pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen
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