December 13                                   Jer 9 - 12

PEACE AND JOY

MEMORISE: ‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil 4:7)
READ: Philippians 4: 4-7

The favourite ones are they who have been set apart. Sanctified people are ones who live lives of peace. They have nothing to fear and are loved by God. Therefore their future is secure in Christ. There is a peace that comes to them who are loved by God, the ones who do the things that please him. God’s favourites are not afraid of any danger, because they know that God is ever near and that they are hidden in Christ inside God. ‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’ (Phil 4:7).

God releases a special and unique kind of peace into the hearts of those who are sanctified. This peace without comparison puts their heart to rest, even when they pass through life’s worst storm. God gives this peace to all his favourites, they that accept him as Lord and follow only him.

The sanctified ones are also given joy. Sanctification is something to be joyful about. You may find Christians who say sanctification should go hand in hand with gloominess and sadness. This is a gross misrepresentation of this glorious experience. Philippians 4:4 says that you should continue to rejoice in the Lord, because – according to Hebrews 13:8 – your heavenly husband is the same yesterday, today and forever. His joy is your strength.

To live a sanctified life requires you to be filled with the Holy Spirit. According to Romans 8: 6-9, God’s standard for sanctification requires a heart that agrees with the Holy Spirit. As long as your mind is on the carnal things of earth and gives them a greater place in your life, you will not be able to mind the things of the Spirit.

If you hav not been filled with the Holy Spirit, you will struggle to live a sanctified life. Your sinful nature will try to trip you up. Ask the Lord to fill you afresh with his Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit in you that frees you from the bondage of the flesh and that enables you to live a spirit-filled life.

ACTION POINT
Ask God to let his peace and unquenchable joy flood your heart.
Ask him to turn the heart of the heathens to the glory of his Kingdom.