Colossians 3:15: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
This week I will interrupt the review of the book of Ephesians to examine one verse in Colossians.
Look at Colossians 3:15 in the Amplified version. And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts (deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state) to which as (members of Christ's one body you were also called (to live). And be thankful (appreciative), (giving praise to God always).
Peace is a gift from God. In an article I wrote a couple of years ago, Prince Of Peace, I made reference to a trip my wife and I made to the Brooklyn Tabernacle in 1997. Pastor Jim Cymbala preached about the peace of God. In the beginning of his sermon he asked the question, "What is it that really makes Christians different from others in the world?" He said that you have Christians with money, and people in the world with money. There are Christians in poverty, and people in the world in poverty. Some Christians struggle with great problems, and some in the world struggle with great problems. Some Christians seem to have no problems, and some without Christ seem to have no problems.
Pastor Cymbala said that the difference is peace. As a believer we possess the peace of God. The world does not.
One definition of peace found in dictionary.com is "the absence of mental stress or anxiety." I like that definition of peace.
When a person walks in fellowship with God, and when that person trusts in God, peace will prevail. When peace prevails, then mental stress and anxiety do not prevail.
I realize that a certain amount of stress is healthy. I also realize that dealing with normal life issues can cause stress. The point is not that you will never face stress. But the emphatic point is that God's peace will supersede any stress in your life.
Notice in our text that Paul says, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Why did Paul use the word let?
God lives inside of every believer. The Holy Spirit dwells inside of the true Christian. If the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, then all of his fruit is inside of you including his peace.
Your life today may be filled with anxiety and mental stress. You may have allowed your mind to be dominated by the problems you face. But, deep inside of you, the Holy Spirit dwells. The peace of Christ lives inside of you. Paul commanded the Colossians to let that peace rule in their hearts.
So much of life revolves around choices. You may choose to be godly or ungodly. You may choose to be positive or negative. You may choose to be forgiving or spiteful. You may choose to allow stress and anxiety to rule your life, or you may choose to allow the peace of Christ to rule your life.
As pastor of Bala Chitto Baptist Church in the late 1970's, I faced a couple of situations that were stressful. When I announced my resignation as pastor in April 1979, I did not know where I was going next. But after my resignation, the Holy Spirit quickly showed me the next step for my life. He led me to join myself to another local minister and to help him in his ministry. However, this local minister had become controversial. His personality was flambouyant, and he was often misunderstood. But I knew his heart. I knew that he loved God, and that he sought to please God with obedience.
A couple of Sundays after my resignation, I announced to the church my future plans. They were stunned to say the least. I knew beforehand, that they would not be thrilled with the news, so the decision and the announcement had produced stress in my life.
After church I was invited for Sunday dinner to the home of one of the families in the church. I remember sitting in a chair in their den waiting for the final preparations to be completed. As I sat in that chair, the peace of God simply overwhelmed me. His peace was like a tangible presence. That peace was confirmation to me that I made the right decision.
Notice the wording of the Amplified version of Colossians 3:15. And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts (deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds.
It is of the utmost importance to understand that God will lead us with his peace. Notice the Amplifed version talks about that peace acting as an umpire continually. An umpire lets you know whether the pitch was a ball or a strike. An umpire lets you know whether you are safe or out. Umpires do not fear making decisions.
When decisions face you, and you are not sure what to do, the peace of God acts as an umpire in your life to help you to decide which path to take. I will not make major decisions without his peace. There are many minor decisions that I will not make without his peace. When a decision is in God's wisdom, there may be difficulties associated with that decision, but there will always be his peace.
Especially, when you face a major decision, make that decision in God's peace. Let that peace help you with deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your mind.
Today, we live in a culture consumed with anxiety and mental stress. Many Christians are consumed with that anxiety and stress. Yet, God has a better way.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. You will live a much higher quality of life. You will become more effective in ministry to your family and to the world. You will become more valuable in the workplace. And you will put your head on your pillow at night and sleep.
Let your heart be ruled by his precious gift of peace.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org