“Thanksgiving, a Path to Peace” (Philippians 4:4-9)

Philippians 4:4-9

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Pastor Tom Johnson, November 24, 2016

The Christian faith promises peace. It is like no other peace. You will not find this kind of peace in all the universe. Even with all of its assets and natural resources, this world cannot give to you the peace that Jesus gives. The source of this peace is the Prince of Peace. Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” We as a church family “exchange the peace” together. We welcome one another with the words, “The peace of the Lord.” We greet one another with God’s peace. The height of our service is the Body and Blood of our service and the pronouncement of the “Peace of the Lord be with you always!” Our worship ends with “peace” in the benediction. The goal of worship is to launch us out into the world as God’s peace-benefactors and his peace-makers. “So, don’t be anxious,” Jesus says to us, “Stop your worrying. Don’t let fear get the best of you. Live your life with the reality of peace.”

Our Scripture today for Thanksgiving says “Do not worry about anything.” When we worry, we needlessly live our lives without peace. We actually are denying ourselves true peace. Paul tells us, “Don’t do that.” “Don’t worry” challenges us to have the courage to pursue for peace in our lives. It challenges us to hold God to his word and boldly ask him for this peace. It challenges us to surrender our worry and illusion that we are in control. But Paul does not just tell us what not to do. He tells us what to do: “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” In other words, hand your anxiety and worry over to the One who can take it away. Surrender to the Prince of Peace. He lived and died to take away every threat to body and soul. He rose to give us the assurance we need and a hope that will not be disappointed. When we turn to Jesus, we have begun to count our blessings with the greatest blessing of all: Jesus. He is the sure antidote to strife, anxiety, and fear. And continue to count your blessings. Consider all the blessings you do have even if you feel like they are overshadowed by the bad.  Our Scripture encourages us to approach “everything…with prayer and thanksgiving.” Thanksgiving is prayer. Thanksgiving is an act of worship. Thanksgiving is a work of God in us. And he promises to lift our spirits into the reality of his Kingdom. He leads us through our dark valleys on a path of peace.

That is what our Scripture promises: “The peace of God which surpasses understanding—peace that transcends comprehension—will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Our brains’ circuitry cannot fully process how wonderful God’s peace is. We will never fully comprehend the height, depth, and width of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus. God’s power does not need our understanding to work in our lives. But God does use our prayer with thanksgiving. Giving thanks to God for the things that come to mind will help us along this path toward peace. And as his peace comes, it does not depend on our understanding. His peace transcends our comprehension. So that we have a peace that may be difficult to explain but no less real. And the catalyst is the gift of God’s Son through our prayers of thanksgiving.

In a few minutes from now we will receive Holy Communion—what we sometimes call the Eucharist. It is based on the New Testament word eucharisteo. The eu means good and charis means grace. In this Meal, we experience the good grace of God. Like Spanish and other Romance languages, thanksgiving is based on the word grace. We give thanks. Some of us still refer to praying at the dinner table as saying “Grace.” It is living life mindful of the grace of God with hearts filled with gratitude. It is prayerful recognition of God’s loving work in our lives. We gather around a Table this morning around the grace-filled Bread and Wine and Body and Blood of our Lord. We are mindful of God’s blessings particularly the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ.
Later today, we will gather around the table with friends and family. It is another opportunity to share this wonderful truth—that we can surrender all our worries and anxieties to God. And that with prayerful thanksgiving, God will give you and yours peace.