In this deeply troubled world of today those of us who know Christ can say with Paul that “He is our peace” (Eph. 2:14a). The people of the world may fear, fuss, and fret, but those dwelling in union with Christ are like those eight souls who were in the Noah’s ark that saved their lives; they hardly knew that there was a storm outside. When Christ is known to be near at hand… there is no fear.

That reminds us of Philippians 4:5-6. The Lord is at hand, therefore “be careful [anxious] for nothing.” He is near, forever indwelling our spirit, so why be full of care? All too often we are careless about the practice of appreciating the presence of Christ in us as we walk in this busy world. All the world’s noise can get our attention, drowning out His still small voice and we forget. Yet, he never forsakes his own. We are forever joined to Him as “one spirit,” ‘His Spirit’ in union with our ‘spirit of man.’

“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)

Today we have no fear of the consequence of religion’s “law” or “the wrath of God.” We are exhorted by Paul telling us how to think;

“whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

This is not forbidding to do things, but it is a positive instruction, to do something that is constructive. And if we love the Lord, it is not hard to come up to these exhortations.

And no family of God has more reason to be thankful than “the Church” of “the Mystery” of “His body.” The record tells us the wilderness journey of Israel was just one long tale of murmuring. How thankful they should have been! It is easy to forget our blessings when we are selfish and have a whole list of wants.

But joy and thankfulness go hand in hand. How thankful we should be. Read the first three chapters of Ephesians and enjoy these truths of our being chosen before the world began and made securely sealed… all in union with Christ… unto eternal our home in the “heavenly places.”

One of the greatest comforts we have today is the ‘new man’ that is in our spirit. We are told that this truth we enjoy is just a sample, an earnest [a down payment on], of what is to come in resurrection when this work on earth will be completed and there will be no more remnants of our old man to bother us. What a comfort when we contemplate such a blissful condition. It is only in this new nature that we can rejoice. And to rejoice is a great refrain in the Word of truth. Both David and Paul knew how to rejoice.

We have a lot of advertising on all hands concerning the foods that will give us strength. Proteins are very popular these days. But there is nothing so strengthening as the Word of God. If the new nature is fed daily on great quantities of the Word, there is strength to overcome in times of trial and stress. There is strength to stand and withstand in the evil day. And so, the Word is a great comfort to us in these days.

In a religious world which depends on all kinds of laws, rituals, and observances, we can stand “letting no man judge us in regard to our food, what we drink, or whether we keep some days as holy, or moon phases in connection with feasts, or even the Sabbaths” (cf. Col. 2:16) …knowing that “in Christ” we are “complete” (perfect) as to our standing before God. Having the substance, we have no need of such external religious shadows.

And probably the best comfort of all is that when we get to “know the love of Christ,” we are “filled with the fullness of God,” this being part of the ultimate goal of the ages.

(Adapted from Oscar M. Baker (originally published in TFT, Volume 17, No. 7)