September 28 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Philippians 4:1-7:

¹Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
²I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
³And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
⁴Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Devotional

What a restless world we live in! People are full of worry, fear and anxiety. They long for peace and security. They strive and do not attain. Even Christians are sometimes given to worry, when they should enjoy perfect peace. The cause of all our troubles and anxieties is sin, our estrangement from God. "There is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked." But Christ has made atonement for our sins, and reconciled us unto God. He made peace through the blood of his cross, and obtained for us righteousness and life. "And the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." How do we ob­tain this righteousness? By faith in Christ. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Christ says, "My peace I give unto you;" that is, "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding," and "keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Then we must not be anxious in anything. The peace of God shall guard our hearts, and the God of peace shall be with us.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." "Great peace have they which love thy law."

Thy burden now cast on the Lord,
   And He shall thy weakness sustain.
The righteous, who trust in his Word,
   Unmoved shall for ever remain.

Prayer

O God, our Father, we thank Thee that through the blood of Christ we are reconciled unto Thee; we know that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, but graciously imputing unto them the righteousness of Christ, thus making peace. Help us, O God, that we may stay our minds on Thee and put our trust in Thee, so that we may enjoy that perfect peace, the peace of God that passeth all understanding. May this peace keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Hear us, graciously, and pardon our sins. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Isa. 48:22; Gal. 1:20; Isa. 32:17; Rom. 5:1; John 14:27; Phil. 4:7; 4:6-9; Isa. 26:3; Ps. 119:165.

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