“Make it your goal to lead a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.” (1Thessalonians 4:11-12, NLT)
‘I’m in a hurry to get things done Oh, I rush and rush until life’s no fun …’ The year was 1992 when the group Alabama recorded an up-tempo song referencing the fast-paced culture of the day and making the point one can always be in a hurry with no real explanation as to why. It reached #1 on both the Country and Pop Music Charts.
The year is 2024 … and folks are still living life ‘in a hurry to get things done’ and can’t seem to figure out how to slow down. Most of us can easily relate. Granted, there are some who just can’t imagine living without noise, happenings, and always having something going on leading to life as just a blur accompanied with confusion, and a sense of simply feeling overwhelmed.
Our days are often filled with noise and distractions that capture and take away peace and quiet out of hearts and lives. And this is exactly what Satan wants to happen in each of our lives.
How can we deal more effectively with this challenge, slow the carousel down? There is medication and help available for just about any condition, but when it comes to finding peace, a slower and quieter life, we cannot just walk into the store or boot up the computer and search, select, and buy it!
There is a way of life, a “walk” that is fully demonstrated in the way Jesus Christ lived His life. He lived every day in peace, communication, and complete trust in His Father! We must grow in faith and maturity giving place to more self-discipline and learn to live more “quiet and peaceable lives.” We are instructed to pray … “For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” (1 Timothy 2:2-3)
I need more stillness, calmness, peacefulness, and more quietness. Not only should this desire be for my own life, but for those I love and care about … and even for those I haven’t even met yet. We must come to the realization that life is not just about us, but rather about Him who has put forth the plan for all men to find the “peace that passes understanding” found only “in Christ.”
The year was approximately 51 A.D. when the apostle Paul wrote I Thessalonians to a very young congregation of God’s people. They were passionate about their new life in Christ, but they had so much more to learn about living a life that meets with God’s approval. These brethren were advised by Paul’s inspired writing in very practical ways to live this kind of life before God and fellow man.
In this passage, Paul is describing the kind of godly conduct which leads to both pleasing God and obtaining a good reputation among other people. Paul’s letters support the truth of the relevancy and practicality of God’s Book for people of any time frame or zone in the world He made! And he is urging these brethren and each of us to make it our goal to keep quiet, to be determined to reach it.
The apostle Peter gave similar advice: “Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world.” (1 Peter 2:12 NLT)
Those who follow us … our children, neighbors, co-workers, and friends … will see our light and taste our salt and want to know why we can have peace amid the trials. They will be curious as to why we have faith when chaos rules. They will be intrigued as to how we are able to live with courage and not fear when everything tells us to be afraid of the future, and amazed at how we can forgive and love even our enemies.
In this turbulent world, the peace of God is an appealing concept. If we want to live the “salt and light” kind of life of serving and pleasing the Lord and be an attractive example for Christ influencing non-believers to see God’s glory and come to Him in faith, we’ll make “it our ambition to lead a quiet life. ” We won’t go around making a lot of noise, interfering in the lives of others. We won’t be driven to argue and boast but instead work hard and assume a humble, low profile both in the church and among unbelievers.
Sit down in a quiet place. How many Bible verses come to mind?
Can you quote Matthew 6:9-13 and be calmed by recognizing God’s all-encompassing power?
Time to open His Book and take in the only source of true peace!
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
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