Author: divinewisdomforchristians

November 2           A Level Highway

“The path of the upright is a level highway… The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.” (Proverbs 15:19b; 16:17)

There is a highway that connects our relatively small community and many smaller communities with our closest large city, San Antonio. Highway I-10 has been under construction for years, and those who frequently travel it are weary of the concrete barriers, the shifting lanes around the work, and closed lanes causing major traffic tie-ups. When we used to think of highways, they represented easy access to major urban centers and good roads for long-distance travel. The Bible would have us hold onto this view, as the way to “travel” with God through this life wisely. We are encouraged to stay on Jesus’s road, not leaving it for sin that presents itself like highway billboards along the way.

Yesterday I was planning a trip with a friend, so we used our GPS to find the nearest highway to our destination, being unsure of the best route. Not wanting to diminish our magnificent Savior, Jesus Christ, I humbly suggest that he is our spiritual GPS, leading us to himself and keeping us on his highway, which is the smooth, easy way once we are his. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) “It [is not] grievous and troublesome, but, on the contrary, very delightful, as the ways of Christ and wisdom are; his commandments are not grievous, his yoke is easy, and his paths pleasant; and the righteous man walks at liberty and with pleasure in them; and without offence or stumbling.” *

I don’t know about you, but my highway is always under construction, by my sanctification. I am grateful for barriers and lane changes that keep me aligned with God and his wisdom, challenged to pay attention so I stay on it. “And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.” (Isaiah 35:8) I don’t want to be like the Israelites of Jeremiah’s time—“My people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway.” (Jeremiah 18:15)

Which road are you traveling today? Will you find a way to stay on the Lord’s highway, with his help? How can you encourage and caution other Christians against leaving it? Let us rejoice and keep faith that “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalms 121:7-8)

* John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 15:19,https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/proverbs-15.html

There is No Death in Pathway of Righteousness

“So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous… The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life…In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.” (Proverbs 2:20; 11:30a; 12:28)

I have two dear friends who have lost family members in the last week; I knew one but did not know the other. One was a dear Christian man beloved by all who knew him, who had an active life and died suddenly. My other friend lost her unbelieving sibling, who had a terminal illness and was estranged from the family. One walked in the gospel, on the path of righteousness, and found God’s tree of life, in which there is no death. The other did not and does not have this fruit, which grieves us tremendously. You will receive little from my pen today, as I am occupied with encouraging my grieving sisters in Christ. At these times, Scripture and our faithful fathers of the faith and the Word have much to teach us.

The writer of Hebrews exhorts us with these words: “…show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”(Hebrews 6:11-12) From John Gill we have: “Now the use and profit of wisdom’s instructions, or of the Gospel of Christ, and the doctrines of it, and a spiritual understanding of them, are…to influence and engage them to follow the examples of good men, and to walk in the same good old paths as they have done…and keep [to] the paths of the righteous; not only observe them and walk in them, but continue therein, even in the paths of faith and holiness… for righteous men, such as are made righteous by the righteousness of Christ, and are anew created unto righteousness and true holiness, and in consequence thereof live righteously.” (1) Matthew Henry comments, “The righteous are as trees of life; and their influence upon earth, like the fruits of that tree, support and nourish the spiritual life in many.” (2)

We live righteously, in the paths of the righteous, by depending on and reminding others of the gospel of Jesus Christ which alone comforts our souls and the souls, hearts, minds, spirits, and lives of others. How might you remind your Christian friends their of gospel righteousness today, to encourage them?

(1) John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Hebrews 6:12, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/hebrews-6.html

(2) Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 11:30, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-concise/

Ponder Your Path

“Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” (Proverbs 4:26-27)

There are many verses in the Bible, and at least six in the Book of Proverbs that speak of walking on a “straight” path with the Lord. (Perhaps that‘s next week’s theme.) But this week, I want to concentrate on the idea that there is only one path or way of life that is the way of God in Jesus Christ. When we walk on God’s path, which is narrow (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:24), it feels anything but straight. However, when the pressures of the world pull us to the left or the burdens of our hearts for our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors threaten to pull us off to the right, we are commanded to stay on The Path—Jesus path—set before us when we are born-again in his Spirit.

The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah spoke of the way God would lead his people after the coming of the Messiah. “Your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:20-21; see also Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27) Paul reiterates how Christians can stay on the right path when tempted by many desires of the flesh. “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16, 25)

As the Holy Spirit works in us to glorify God in our lives, by our dedication to living according to his Word and guidance, we are to wisely “ponder the path” of our feet. We often go somewhere or do something almost automatically, without thinking about what we are about to do or how we are attempting to accomplish it. This reminds me of teaching an older person to use a mouse with a desktop computer, who has never used a mouse before, or teaching a child how to assemble a puzzle. The hands try to do that which the mind and eyes must do first—they must about what they want to do, then the hands follow. “Vital to keeping the heart formed in wisdom is the need to recognize and stay on the path that will shape it further in the way of righteousness.” *

Where are your feet going today? Will you think about how God’s wisdom might influence your plans before you take your first step? Will you stop and pray for the Spirit’s guidance today first?

* ESV Study Bible Notes, Proverbs 4:26-27, (digital edition), Crossway, 2008.

The Righteous Path Shines

“The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” (Proverbs 4:18-19)

The mornings are dark these days just before we start daylight savings time. But I enjoy the gentle transition from darkness to light as the sun crowns the horizon and moves upward in the sky in Texas. Living in Africa, close to the equator, the sunrises and sunsets are very quick (and you may google this to learn why, since I am no scientist). God also gives us the light of truth and forgiveness for sin in Christ at the time of our regeneration. It is like the early morning sun that suddenly breaks over the horizon near the equator. But then, over our Christian lifetimes, his light of grace and truth increases until he calls us to himself at dearth.

Two things, at least, are necessary to remember: the light is God’s light (not some impersonal, universal or experiential idea), and the “path” and “way” both refer to a lifestyle or pattern of living here on earth. The two verse contrast living by Christ’s righteousness or living in the darkness of ignorance by rejecting his free grace. those who choose to reject Jesus’s gospel for themselves live in “deep darkness” which does not change but causes confusion and stumbling. (See Job 24:13.) If we are in Christ, his light becomes brighter and brighter in us and our lives as we grow spiritually. Christians who are growing in their Christ-likeness are witnesses of his light and forgiveness, as the sun is a testimony to God’s love and faithfulness. “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:20-21)

“[The light] grows and increases more and more, every grace does, faith, hope, love, patience, humility, etc. the light of the knowledge of Christ the way, though it is imperfect, yet capable of being increased, and is increased by means of the ministry of the word and ordinances; which increase God has promised, saints pursue after, and attain unto…the light [of the] Gospel, and the doctrines of it, increases yet more and more; whereby a soul walks pleasantly, comfortably, and safely, in right path, “until the perfect day” of glory comes.” * Our lives are the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ if we are walking with him. It is the “path of the righteous” which shines brighter and brighter by God’s grace. It is the strength of the gospel working in us that spills over into the lives of others. In Daniel’s words, “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’… God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (John 1:4-5; 8:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6) How will your path, your life, reflect increasing light today?

* John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 4:18, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/proverbs-4.html

The Paths of the Righteous.

“If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God… Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path…So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.” (Proverbs 2:3-5, 9, 20)

As a consummate planner, I always start from the due date or event date and work backward to create milestones when certain elements of a project must be completed for it to be successful. Bakers do this when there is a deadline, such as a wedding. Bakers like Charm City Cakes (Aces of Cakes) build enormous cakes with elaborate designs, but everything must be planned out, prepared, and executed correctly for a good result. The same applies to house rebuilds on HGTV. When I study Scripture that concentrates on the application, I go back to the preparation and work or doctrine involved in the Bible’s commands or promises, which are very specific. In Proverbs 2:20, where I started my study, “walking in the way of the good” represents the way we live if we “keep to the paths of the righteous” by calling out for insight and understanding (vs. 1-5) which leads us to apprehend God’s righteousness, justice, and equity (v. 9).

In Proverbs 1:20-21 Solomon depicts wisdom as a woman in the marketplace, on a crying out to us. Now in 2:3 we are the ones who should be calling out, raising our voices for wisdom, imitating her. She shouts to us from a foundation of knowledge, understanding, and insight; we call out from a position of humility and need. She is the personification of God’s perfect, cherished goodness, wanting to share it with us. We require God’s good grace and provisions to live a good life. So we are seek it like silver, but also search for it like a hidden treasure. Seek and silver are common Hebrew words, but search and treasure are rare. We move from the conventional idea of wisdom to the hidden profound wisdom of God. * “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44) Only in the kingdom of the gospel of Jesus Christ can we obtain a higher understanding of God’s righteousness, justice, and equity, which is essential on the path of righteousness in Christ. (v. 9)

How will you actively search for the hidden treasure of gospel wisdom today? Passivity will not work; we much apply ourselves to the pursuit of Christ-likeness if we are to live the good life of the kingdom.

* The Reformation Study Bible, Proverbs 2:4, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015.

Worshipping Our Omnipotent God

“[God] stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing. He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them. He covers the face of the full moon and spreads over it his cloud. He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke. By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab. By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:7-14)

It’s early morning just after the sunrise, and the trees outside my window look like they have been painted with gold leaf, shimmering in the early morning light. The crystal clear blue sky is allowing the sun to create shadows everywhere on the building–images of branches in gray tones motionless on this calm day with no wind whatsoever. But it is not the sky nor the sun which ultimately paints this lovely picture, but God himself, their Creator. As Job attempts to defend himself against his friends’ accusation that his sin caused all his trouble, he presents them and us with a conundrum that even he is unable to resolve. Job says, “his power who can understand?”

God stretches, covers, rebukes, stills, shatters, makes, and pierces to form his creation. God works his might on the northern hemisphere, full rain clouds, the moon, the seas, mighty Egypt (Rahab), the heavens, and beasts. But these are just verbs and nouns, whereas Job’s speech is poetic and inspired. It is not my desire to simplify that which I cannot understand—God’s power! So, with the help of much wiser theologians, my purpose today is to consider the incomprehensible omnipotence of God. Job had more knowledge and understanding of God than his friends. But even Job realized that his wisdom was limited, having experience and realized a mere fringe of God’s power—”these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him!” (v. 14)

“Job was so far from thinking that he had taken notice of all, or even of the chief and principal, that what he observed were only the extremities, the edges, the borders, and outlines of the ways and works of God in creation and providence; wherefore, if these were so great and marvelous, what must the rest be which were out of the reach of men to point out and describe?…Though their voice is heard everywhere, and shows forth the knowledge of him; even exhibits to view his invisible things, his eternal power and Godhead; yet it is comparatively so faint a light, that men grope as it were in the dark, if haply they might find him, having nothing but the light of nature to guide them.” *

Consider this passage from Proverbs: “I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!” (30:2-4) As Christians, we naturally think of the “son” in this passage as Jesus Christ, but Agur denies any such revelatory insight. “I am weary, O God, and worn out. Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.” (Proverbs 30:1-3) In the end, Job also realized the limits of his understanding of God’s power and character. “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (Job 42:3)

Our greatest strength is in our meekness and humility, worshipping God through our naivete, repenting of our pride in even thinking that we know much of him. Only in Christ can we have more than a glimpse of our Divine Creator, the Lord of Glory, and King of Kings. Let us worship Christ in humility today, knowing that we don’t know much, but receiving greater knowledge of the Son as we adore him.

* John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Job 26:14, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/job-26.html

Striving for Peace

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (2 Peter 3:13-14)

Do you spend much time on the water, in a boat, fishing, or off the beach? Oceans, Lakes, rivers, and even creeks are relaxing and soothing to a troubled spirit. However, when Jesus began his public ministry, sitting in a boat off the shore of the Sea of Galilee, teaching the crowds, I doubt they felt relaxed. In fact, he was stirring them up, pronouncing blessings on the pour in spirit, those who mourned, the meek, the hungry and thirsty, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers. How could they be all these things? Surely they were amazed that they might “see God” or “be called sons of God!” (Matthew 5:1-9) Yet that is exactly what Jesus promises to the elect, to those whose holiness is not their own but is from him. In Hebrews 12:14 “‘holiness’ refers to purity of life. It is provided by God (Heb. 13:21) and guided by his discipline (Heb. 12:10), but we must ‘strive’ for it.” (1)

The command to be holy and to be at peace with everyone isn’t comfortable because it demands that we depend upon God’s strength, wisdom, and holiness. We must “strive” for it—struggle, try, exert ourselves, and do our very best to be at peace with everyone. The writer of Hebrews reminds us of Jesus’s remarks—that this is the only way to see God. We see God by faith as we walk in his statutes and Spirit in this life. We will see him face-to-face one day, when we will be spotless and perfectly peaceful, without the struggle that we have here. Our future with Christ is a great encouragement and hope as we work out our sanctification, leaning on God’s grace. “For though holiness is not perfect in this life, yet it will be in heaven; and there is a perfection of it in Christ; and it is to be followed after, by going to Christ for more grace, and exercising faith upon him, as our sanctification.” (2) If we are regenerated in Christ by the Holy Spirit, we desire his holiness and will always receive God’s help to be his peacemakers when we strive for it.

As we end this short study on biblical peace, let’s remember that we already have peace with God through our salvation in Christ, and it is this peace that works in our relationships. So these commands are for those who are already pure in heart, by the grace of God. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” (Romans 12:18; 14:19) Lord, help us to be peacemakers.

(1) The Reformation Study Bible, Hebrews 12:14, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015.

(2) John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Hebrews 12:14, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/hebrews-12.html

 

The Lord of Peace is Our Peace

“And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” (Isaiah 32:17-18)

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

We live in a busy, chaotic world that feeds us news, entertainment, and communication around the clock, twenty-four hours a day. Much of this activity is good, some is harmful, and it is just too much if we don’t filter it and take breaks. I reject the idea that I have to have a response to every news report, an opinion about every political event, or a reaction to every Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram post. Much of what I look at on my iPhone is filtered; I use settings on my feeds and social network sites and text, “STOP” to messages that I have not requested coming from an organization I don’t want to endorse. It used to be that we had to work at getting connected, at church, the store, or in our neighborhoods; now we have to work at getting unconnected to have some quietness.

The good news of 2 Thessalonians 3:16 is that whenever Christians seek Jesus, the Lord of peace, we can have his peace—all the time, in all ways. Christ’s peace is assured to us without connection to any particular circumstances or conditions, except our being born again in faith, belonging to him. Isaiah 32 reminds us that “my people” will have peaceful, safe homes, and places to rest quietly because of God’s righteousness. There is nothing we can do to secure this lovely pasture except to trust and believe in the “effect of righteousness” in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.

Matthew Henry comments on Isaiah 32:8-18, “The Jews were the only professing people God then had in the world, yet many among them were rebellious. They had the light, but they loved darkness rather…They did not like to hear of his holy commandments and his hatred of sin; they desired that they might no more be reminded of these things. But as they despised the word of God, their sins undermined their safety…They think themselves wiser than God; but the project by which they thought to save themselves was their ruin…Those who make God alone their confidence, will have comfort. God ever waits to be gracious to all that come to him by faith in Christ, and happy are those who wait for him.” *

The only real peace we have is in, with, and through Jesus Christ. The world whirls, and we will spin with it if we do not stop to consider the righteousness of Christ that should impact how we live in this world. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring…Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-17) When will you spend time with the Lord of peace today?

* Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Isaiah 32:8-18, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-concise/

Peace From the Holy Spirit

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace…May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 8:6; 15:13)

I have many friends who own cats who enjoy them because they are usually quiet, undemanding, and peaceful. I don’t have a cat myself, but enjoy one that is nearby and very friendly. Five or ten minutes with Pumpkin sitting in my lap on my patio the most peaceful time in my day—no computer, no phones, just Pumpkin and me. As I write this, I am rebuked in my thinking, with my mind on the flesh, that the greatest peace I can have is in a cat. I neglect the fact that I have fellowship with the Holy Spirit who is living in me, as he is in all believers (2 Corinthians 13:14). I am rebuked for my worldly thinking and redirected to the God of hope, who fills us with all joy and peace through our faith in Jesus Christ. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) I think Pumpkin is a gift from God, but the Holy Spirit is God himself, so much better.

By the working of the gospel in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we abound in hope, filled with joy and peace, as Paul prayed in 15:13. He wrote these words to the Romans who were divided on the issue of Gentiles being accepted into the kingdom of God through Christ without undergoing circumcision or conversion to Judaism. There have been times in history when other major theological issues have caused conflict and division in the Protestant Church, but today religious issues seem to be superseded by political and cultural issues among Christians. In both cases, our divisions are a result of having our minds fixed on our opinions, understanding, and experience, rather than on God, through the Holy Spirit’s wisdom. Would we quiet down more often, we would have more hope, joy, and peace leading to more rational, reasonable responses and realistic expectations in a world that is misdirected and materialistic. Those who are spiritually dead do not have the gifts of the Spirit and cannot know the peace he gives in relationships, work, families, church communities, worship, and all the other activities of life. Christians have the Spirit of peace and ought to be ready for Paul’s prayer to be answered in us.

It’s raining today—an encouragement for me to find my peace in Christ, rather than in Pumpkin. Where or how will you find the Spirit’s peace today?

 

Guarded by Peace

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

Some of us live in compounds or housing communities that have gates and guards. The staff monitor cars and people coming and going for the sake of our safety, protecting us from harm. It gives us peace to know that they are there, doing their jobs; our peacefulness is the result of their presence after someone else hired and instructed them in their work.  In Philippians 4:7, it is God’s peace in Christ that guards our hearts and minds. We are the recipients of peace that gives us even more peace by its diligence to protect us from dangers. Isaiah knows that it is God’s peace that is perfect, given to us who believe and trust in him.

We want this perfect peace, from our perfect Savior, but how does it look? John Gill offers informative commentary on Isaiah 26:3. “The word ‘perfect’ is not in the Hebrew text, it is there ‘peace, peace’; which is doubled to denote the certainty of it, the enjoyment of it, and the constancy and continuance of it; and as expressive of all sorts of peace, which God grants unto his people, and keeps for them, and them in; as peace with God and peace with men, peace outward and peace inward, peace here and peace hereafter; and particularly it denotes the abundance of peace that believers will have in the kingdom of Christ in the latter day.” (1)

The glorious truth that we can have Christ’s peace without understanding it reminds me of my complete naivete when I received faith to believe in Jesus Christ at my regeneration. As a thirty-three-year-old adult, I had no idea of the immensity of the event that changed the entire course of my life, transforms my thinking, and gives me eternal hope beyond my emotions and opinions. But, “God’s peace is especially inexplicable when it guards…believers’ hearts in the midst of threatening circumstances, such as Paul’s present imprisonment.” (2)

If we keep our minds on Jesus, trusting in him, we will consciously experience his perfect peace. Other times, when we are distracted by the world, ourselves, and our temptations, God’s peace is still at work in us, keeping us from dangers that we are oblivious to, that might otherwise ensnare us. But it is to our greatest benefit to embrace and employ the peace of Christ that guards us by remembering its presence and power to help us in our trials and temptations. How can you employ his peace more effectively today?

(1) John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Isaiah 26:3, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/isaiah-26.html

(2) The Reformation Study Bible, Philippians 4:7, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015.