The Little Foxes, That Spoil the Vines
We can have perfect peace in the midst of chaos by trusting in God's love and leadership.
Greek Word Studies delves into the meaning of 'sigao', which signifies being silent, holding one's peace, or keeping something secret. The concept is illustrated in various Bible verses, such as Luke 9:36 where Jesus' disciples kept silent about what they had seen. Romans 16:25 reveals a mystery that has been kept secret for long ages past but is now manifested through the Scriptures of the prophets, leading to obedience of faith.
Text
There are some things good without being perfect. You do not need to have a whole regiment firing outside your room to wake you. It is quite enough that your alarm clock rings. it is not necessary to fret about everything; it is quite enough if the devil gets your mind rasped with one little worry, one little thought which destroys your perfect peace. It is like the polish on an exquisite table top. One scratch will destroy it; and the finer it is, the smaller the scratch that will deface it. And so your rest can be destroyed by a very little thing. Perhaps you have trusted in God about your future salvation; have you trusted Him about your present business or earthly cares, your money and your family?
What is meant by the peace [that] passeth all understanding? (Philippians 4:7).
It does not mean a peace no one can comprehend. It means a peace no amount of reasoning will bring. You cannot get it by thinking. There may be perfect bewilderment and perplexity all around the horizon, yet your heart can rest in perfect security because God knows, He loves, He leads.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Imperfection of Perfection
- A. Not everything needs to be perfect
- B. A little worry or thought can destroy perfect peace
- II. The Fragility of Rest
- A. A small scratch can destroy a fine surface
- B. A little thing can destroy our rest
- III. Trusting God in All Things
- A. Trusting God about our future salvation
- B. Trusting God about our present business and earthly cares
- IV. The Nature of Peace
- A. Peace that passeth all understanding
- B. A peace that cannot be brought by reasoning
Key Quotes
“It is quite enough that your alarm clock rings; it is not necessary to fret about everything.” — A.B. Simpson
“It is like the polish on an exquisite table top: one scratch will destroy it, and the finer it is, the smaller the scratch that will deface it.” — A.B. Simpson
“You cannot get it by thinking; there may be perfect bewilderment and perplexity all around the horizon, yet your heart can rest in perfect security because God knows, He loves, He leads.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We must be careful not to let a little worry or thought consume us, as it can destroy our rest.
- We must trust God not only about our future salvation, but also about our present business and earthly cares.
- We can have perfect peace even in the midst of bewilderment and perplexity by trusting in God's love and leadership.