Are you a checklist type of person? Ever wonder what you need to do to achieve peace? Would you like to have a list of things you can do to realize peace in your life? Do you know there are principles and practices you can use to acquire peace?
Some of us are checklist people. We make lists of tasks and check them off as we complete them. We develop step-by-step processes and follow them religiously. We may even organize our lists so we can complete them in the most efficient manner.
Paul put together a list of principles or practices we can follow to realize peace in our lives. They are not always easy. In fact, they can be quite challenging to adhere to in some situations. Take a look at the list he provides in today’s passage. The list holds us to a high standard. It requires us to take a hard look at our own lives, giving up our selfishness, biases, and personal desires.
We cannot achieve the standard Paul lays out for us on our own. We need someone we can trust to hold us accountable, even if it is simply someone we don’t want to let down. Who is the best person to hold us accountable? Why not the only One who lived perfectly? Yes, Jesus. He can both help us change our lives and hold us accountable so we can live up to the high standard. Jesus can bring us peace. He sent a Helper to us—the Holy Spirit. Peace comes to us as we accept Jesus into our lives and follow Him. Paul simply puts together a list He recognized as He followed Jesus himself.
I pray we all hold ourselves to a higher standard. I pray we accept Jesus into our lives as our Counselor. I pray each one of us strives for the inner peace we desire. Follow the principles and practices Paul documented. Accept Jesus into your life. Follow Him. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit. Seek peace. Experience the peace of Christ.
Philippians 4:8-9 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.
Marty Pressey 