Dr. Dan Hayden •
Would you rather be inside or outside, on a cold rainy day? Well, if you’re like most people, you’d rather be inside, looking out – rather than outside, looking in. Inside – that’s the place to be when it’s not so nice outside. In, that’s our word for today.
Philippians 4:6-7 helps us to understand better how, through prayer, we can experience the peace of God. Notice how it all ends: “…and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” That’s the exclamation point on this verse.
The King James tradition says “through Christ Jesus,” but that’s not the preposition dia through, rather it is the preposition en meaning in or within. You see, “in Christ” is a phrase of position or relationship.
Now here’s the point: we receive everything from God by virtue of our position in Christ. “In Christ” is where we must be, if we are going to receive the blessing of God.
So, how does this happen? When you acknowledge that you are a sinner before God, and you place your faith in Jesus Christ to save you from your sin – at the moment you believe and receive Christ as your personal Savior, God forgives your sin. He gives you eternal life, and the Spirit of God places you “in Christ.” It happens at the moment of salvation. Then, once you have become a Christian through faith in Jesus Christ, all the blessings of God become available to you because you are now a part of the family of God “in Christ.” And that includes the privilege of bringing everything to God in prayer, so that the incredible peace of God can guard your heart and mind in any circumstance. You see, the peace of God is only available to those who are “in Christ.”
You see, it really is better to be inside with the peace of God, rather than outside wishing you could have it.