A Pathway to Peace Revisited
June 2, 2020
by Jason Waldrep, Director of Worship
When I wrote the sermon I shared Sunday the 24th of May, I had no idea how fragile the state of our nation would be just a couple weeks later. I opened my message talking about the temptation of getting sucked into the daily news cycle around COVID-19, and really couldn’t foresee that it could actually get any worse. But it has.
The death of George Floyd is a tragedy in every sense of the word. Racism is evil and is an affront to humanity. In Christ, we have the responsibility to stand against racism in all its forms and to also come alongside those who have suffered under its weight. We are called as followers of Jesus to love God and to love our neighbors, and we must remember that embracing EVERYONE in love is the highest call and our greatest opportunity in times such as these.
In the sermon I gave from Philippians 4:4-7, I outlined three steps on a pathway to peace:
To rejoice in the Lord always.
To let our reasonableness be known to others
To let our requests be known to God through prayer.
It is in the practice of these things that Paul promises peace, and not just any peace, but a guardian peace that fights for you while you rest in Jesus. This passage is as applicable today as it was 2,000 years ago when Paul wrote it and will be just as relevant in tomorrow’s storms as well.
Today, in the midst of all that is going on in the world around us, I invite you to meditate on the very next verse in this passage, which I didn’t have time to address in my message. Philippians 4:8 says this: “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.”
Why would Paul write these instructions on what to focus on right after promising peace? I believe it’s because what we choose to focus on has a great deal of influence on us. Can we believe that even in the midst of great darkness and despair, when our society seems to be coming apart at the seams, truth still exists? Can nobility be found? How about righteousness, purity, loveliness? Is there anything excellent or praiseworthy going on around you? You may have to look a little closer and harder, but I can say with confidence that the goodness of God is still here and evident all around us.
John 1:5 reminds us that the Light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness has not overcome it. Jesus is the Light and is present in everything. The darkness could not overcome Him, and never will. So don’t ignore the headlines. Stay engaged and informed, and pray for our world. But also be intentional to take more time to see where the Light is shining in the dark … and bask in it.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, May Your Son Jesus, our Light in the darkness, shine brighter not only in our world, but in us as well. Help us to remember that peace is a person, and remind us to take the time we need each day to be with you and to intercede for our nation that desperately needs your healing touch. Amen.
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