It Makes No Sense

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

There are just some things that don’t make any sense. The popularity of the Kardashians. Why do we call it a pair of pants when there’s only one? We drive on the parkway and park in the driveway. What’s so “fun-sized” about candy in smaller packages? Michael Brooks even wrote a book called “13 Things that Don’t Make Sense.” Paul says we can add God’s peace to that list of things we can’t wrap our minds around. “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (v7). 

Through our relationship with Jesus, God’s peace acts like an impenetrable force field protecting us from anxiety’s attacks. Nobody can figure how it happens. You can’t look at it under a microscope. You can’t recreate it in a lab. But you’ve seen it yourself firsthand. A friend who’s absolutely unshaken after a horrible diagnosis. A coworker who remains calm despite being downsized. A neighbor who keeps their cool in the face of the loss of a loved one. The only thing they all have in common is Christ. His presence in their lives doesn’t mean their pain isn’t real. They should feel like they’re under attack. But they have His peace protecting their hearts and minds. It just doesn’t make any sense.

There’s every reason the apostle should be personally freaked out. He’s in a Roman lockup for telling people about Jesus. And he’s been there for about five years. I don’t know about you, but I would probably be throwing myself a personal prison pity party. But not Paul. Why? Because he’s got the peace of God. And he’s writing to a bunch of friends in Philippi who aren’t exactly living in the lap of suburban luxury. It wasn’t that long ago when the message of Jesus ignited riots in the city (Acts 16:19-23). In a letter to the Corinthian church, we read about how tough things are for the Macedonian churches, which includes the Philippians. They’re facing a “severe test of affliction” and “extreme poverty” (2Cor 8:1-2). Both the author and his recipients have every reason to gripe and complain. Instead we see peace. And not just any peace. It’s the peace of God. It just doesn’t make any sense.

We’re in the homestretch of Paul’s letter and he’s giving the Philippians specific instructions. He’s spent nearly all of the first three chapters reminding them of who they are in Jesus and the unbelievable value of an intimate relationship with our Savior. Here he shifts gears and gives us application. Once we realize who we are in Christ, he tells us what to do as His followers. The indicatives lead to imperatives. The facts lead to actions. The apostle reminds us to rejoice, repeat, and rejoice again (Phil 4:4). Make sure we have a rep for sacrifice and humility (Phil 4:5). Instead of freaking out about anything, we pray to God about everything (Phil 4:6). 

Here in verse 7, we see the very practical benefit of dropping off all our worry at the feet of Jesus. God’s mind-blowing peace defends our thoughts and emotions. “The peace of God” (v7) is so much more than a lack of warfare. There’s no doubt that Jesus puts an end to our rebellion against God’s kingdom. But that’s just the start. Both the NT Greek word eirene and the OT Hebrew term shalom describe something SO much more than an end to fighting. We’re talking about total harmony and perfect order. Everything fits together. Life makes sense. Think back to the description of God’s perfect creation…before we broke it, of course. Every time the Almighty stopped to check things out, He made a point of saying just how awesome things were (Gen 1: 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). Why? Because everything was working in shalom. Perfect, God ordained rhythm. 

In his book “Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be,” Cornelius Plantinga describes shalom as “the webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight…Shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight—a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be…the full flourishing of human life in all aspects, as God intended it to be.” 

Pump your brakes and ponder that thought for a moment. Universal flourishing. Wholeness. Delight. In the light of just how jacked up our world is in the 21st Century, shalom absolutely doesn’t make sense. God’s peace is WAY beyond our limited human understanding. Flip on CNN or Fox News for just a few minutes. War. Murder. Poverty. Corruption. Entertainment news. Is there any doubt the world is spinning down the porcelain bowl? But it’s the thought that Jesus is on His way back not just to rescue you and me but to redeem our broken universe. Justin Timberlake may be bringing sexy back, but Christ is bringing God’s peace back. 

Can you think of anyone better for the job than the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6). Right before His own betrayal and murder, Jesus tells His posse, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Jn 14:27). The prophet Isaiah praises God for the amazing shalom He blesses on those who lean on His goodness. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Is 26:3). Paul prays for the Thessalonians that “the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way” (2Th 3:16). The apostle has a similar prayer for Colossian believers to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Col 3:15). Don’t settle for substitutes. Don’t be fooled by imitators. There’s no better source for God’s peace than the God of peace. 

His peace does something that nothing else can or will do. His shalom “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v7). Paul uses a word here (Gr. phroureo) that describes the correction officer just outside his cell. It can be used either to keep someone in custody or to protect from harm. The apostle tells us that God’s peace isn’t holding us hostage but shielding us from assault. Think of the detail of Secret Service agents who protect the President. God’s peace acts in a similar way, completely surrounding and shielding our hearts and minds. 

What is He protecting us from? Fear. Worry. Panic. Why do you think they call it an anxiety attack? I don’t know about you, but it’s not the full-on front assault that worries me. It’s those emotional terrorist raids that knock me for a loop. That’s why I need to be in a continual state of prayer with and dependence upon Jesus. His peace is always on high alert. His shalom remains at DEFCON 1. His protection brings me His peace. The world around us may be spinning out of control. But His shalom keeps us calm. King David had a hit song all about how God’s protection keeps us safe when we’re strolling through Death Valley (Ps 23:4). How does it work? I dunno. It makes absolutely no sense. Kind of like why a round pizza comes in a square box and is cut in triangles.

What's Your Rep?

“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5).

For Thomas Edison, it’s the light bulb. The Wright boys Wilbur and Orville made a name for themselves for powered flight. We’ll always remember Rosa Parks for her courage to keep her seat on the bus. Cameron Crowe's film tells the story of a wannabe writer who was "Almost Famous." And who can forget the Kardashians who are famous for…famous for…famous for what exactly?!? Famous for being famous? How about you? What’s your rep? What are you known for? 

Paul tells us we should be famous for not wanting to win. “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand” (v5). I realize this wasn’t how Dale Earnhardt earned his nickname as the Intimidator. He’s famous for saying, “Second place is just the first place loser.” That might be how you get to Victory Lane at the track, but not in life. Just like Jesus who’s encore is right around the corner, we should be well known for helping others to succeed and be first.

You might think the apostle writes from a pie-in-the-sky-sweet-by-and-by perspective. All that consideration for others stuff may work for him as a pastor and missionary, but not in the real world. Slow your roll and remember where Paul is when he writes to his friends in Philippi. He’s behind bars in Rome and he’s been in the joint for about five years since his original arrest in Jerusalem at the temple riot (Acts 21:30-36). So the man from Tarsus isn’t writing this call to graciousness from an ivory tower. Despite being  an innocent man, the apostle is in the slammer. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be telling my friends to be reasonable if I were doing hard time in Caesar’s supermax. A cake with a file? Yes. Now THAT would be reasonable!

What exactly does the apostle mean when he says, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone” (v5)? Well, a closer look at the original text would probably help us out. Where the ESV translators give us “reasonableness” is the Greek word epieikes. This term has a boatload of meaning. Everything from gentleness, graciousness, fairness, forbearance, consideration to moderation. According to MacArthur, it can mean contentment with generosity toward others, or mercy toward others’ faults and failures, and even patience when suffering unjustly. Think graciousness and humility. A willingness to yield despite having every right to be first in line. Hmm, Who does THAT sound like? (Feel free to flip back to Philippians 2:1-11 just in case it slipped your mind.)

Check out how the writers of the NT use this word epieikes. Paul tells his boy Tim how “an overseer must be…not a drunkard, not violent but gentle (Gr. epieikes), not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (1Tim 3:2, 3). Later he encourages Titus to tell folks in his congregation “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle (Gr. epieikes), and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:2). Jesus’ kid brother James writes how God’s wisdom “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle (Gr. epieikes), open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere” (James 3:17). Peter tells us to be good employees whether our bosses are “good and gentle (Gr. epieikes) but also to the unjust” (1Pet 2:18). 

Don’t mistake “gentle” for “doormat.” You may have the ability to fight for first place doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to do. Paul says just because you can doesn’t mean you should. God gives the followers of Jesus an inner strength and power to step back and let others get the win. Check out how the Message puts this part of the verse. “Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them” (v5 The Message). Instead of a wimpy weakling, picture a 300-pound pulling guard ready to pancake a linebacker so his teammate can get to the end zone. “Doormat?” I think not!

If we’re going to be in the headlines for something, it should be for clearing the way for others to succeed. “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone” (v5). The Kardashians may be famous for simply being famous (how in the world does THAT happen?!?), we’re to earn a rep for unselfishness. Let the watching world see just how gentle and gracious you are. “Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit)” (v5 AMP).In other words, Paul wants his readers to become famous for following Jesus by being Jesus to their friends and neighbors.

Take a look around. Who needs your help? Who’s struggling to just to stay in the race much less finish first? Who has Jesus placed in your life that you can assist and get the win? And think back to those people who’ve been there for you when you were down for the count after life sucker punched you. Where would you be without these folks who weren’t worried about winning and came to your rescue?

The apostle seems to drop a phrase out of nowhere that initially doesn’t make any sense. “The Lord is at hand” (v5). This can mean a couple of things. He’s either saying that Christ is just about to make His long-promised encore or He’s closer than we realize. In other words, the word here (Gr. eggus) can mean refer to either time (about to arrive) or space (right around the corner). Well, our Savior did say once everything was in place, He would make His spectacular comeback (Mk 13:3-31). In the meantime, “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come” (Mk 13:33). Or Paul could be talking about how our risen Lord is right here with us. Just before He physically headed home to heaven, Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). Whether we’re talking time or space, Jesus is right around the corner. 

Until Christ comes back, let’s do what we can to earn a rep for reasonableness. Let’s be known for humbly helping others win in life. Let’s be known for Christlike unselfishness. Let’s be famous for serving others. Isn’t that reasonable?