Colossians 3:15 - Let the Peace of God Rule in Your Hearts.
Colossians 3:15 (NIV) Let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts...
Colossians 3:15 (NLT) And let the peace that
comes from Christ rule in your hearts...
WORD STUDY
The word 'rule' comes from the language of
athletics: Paul tells us to let Christ's peace be
umpire or referee in our hearts. Our hearts are the
center of conflict because there our feelings and
desires clash - our fears and hopes, distrust and
trust, jealousy and love. How can we deal with
these constant conflicts and live as God wants?
Paul explains that we must decide between
conflicting elements by using the rule of peace - which
choice will promote peace in our souls and in our
churches. [Life Application SB]
INTRODUCTION
Christians should live in peace. To live in
peace does not mean that suddenly all differences
in opinion are eliminated, but it does require
that loving Christians work together despite
their differences. Such love is not a feeling, but
a decision to meet others' needs (see 1 Cor.
13). To live in love leads to peace between
individuals and among the members of the body of
believers. Do problems in your relationships with other
Christians cause open conflicts or mutual silence?
Consider what you can do to heal those relationships
with love. [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Science has confirmed what the Bible
taught centuries ago: There is a close relationship
between our minds and bodies. Proverbs puts it this
way: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a
crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Prov. 17:22
NIV).
But there is also a close relationship
between our mental and physical health and the
health of our spiritual lives. Guilt, fear,
jealousy, bitterness, futility, escapism - these and a
host of other problems are spiritual ills,
brought about by the disease of sin. Like poison,
they can sicken us in mind and body.
But when Christ comes into our lives, He
removes our guilt and takes away our fears. He gives
us love for others and a new purpose in life.
His joy and peace neutralize sin's poison - and
that promotes emotional and physical health.
Does that mean our emotional and physical
problems will vanish? Not necessarily. But like a
spring of pure water, God's peace in our hearts
brings cleansing and refreshment to our minds and
bodies. [Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
When you walk in the new nature and wear
the new clothes of the Kingdom, you find an
inner shalom that you were designed to carry. That
shalom - the peace, wholeness, fullness, and
rightness of life as it was meant to be - is a
satisfying place. Its more than the absence of conflict
and tension. Its restoration of the true human
nature given in Eden and re-created through Jesus.
It's a gift of life from the Prince of Shalom
Himself.
Many Christians lose that peace and
fullness when they begin applying the Kingdom ways to
everyone around them and make righteous demands on
people who have only the old nature to draw from or
are in a different place in their discipleship
journey. Scripture tells us to walk in the new nature
and wear the new Kingdom clothes, but it never
tells us to decide the path for others and dress
them the way we see fit. Yes, there are common
expressions of Christ that all should embrace, and we
are free to teach them. But the Kingdom is not a
place of finger-pointing. It is always calling us
to look on our old nature with judgment but
never to be judgmental toward others. When we take
verses meant for us and apply them to others -
often out of season for their lives - we lose
whatever peace we had gained. We become like the
righteous scribes and Pharisees who, deep inside,
weren't very righteous at all.
Apply the Word to yourself. Even teach it
to others. Explore it with those around you,
and exhort and encourage one another with its
hope and calling. But as one who has received an
extraordinary amount of mercy, never look unmercifully at
another. And certainly never judge those in the old
nature by the standards of the new. These are not
attitudes that make for peace.
No, peace comes from your inner communion
with Christ and will manifest with the same mercy
and love that He expressed to people who were
really immature and may have made very bad
decisions. Let love and mercy rule in your heart, and
peace - shalom in its fullness - will flourish.
[The One Year Heaven On Earth Devotional by Chris
Tiegreen]
ILLUSTRATION
My thirteen-year-old son, Pierce, plays
baseball (among other sports), and now this
nonathlete, writer mom is enriching her writing with
lots of handy sports metaphors. In baseball, the
umpire is in charge. Hes the all-powerful
referee. He starts and ends the game, enforces the
rules, etc. Boy, talk about effective imagery!
Colossians 3:15 is crystal clear and so
practical, particularly in the Amplified Bible. Let
Christs peace be the controlling factor in our
decision-making. Its a great feeling to make decisions
with that deep sense of supernatural serenity.
Yet sometimes prayerful, peace-filled decisions
lead us to unexpected places that seem anything
but peaceful. Think of Moses, Jonah, the virgin
Mary, or just anybody who answered Gods call,
feeling peaceful or not. I have made some decisions
in life, full of peace, that went on to be
extraordinarily challenging, but rich with spiritual fruit
for me and for others.
In Little League, youll sometimes have
an umpire who makes downright bad calls; calls
that everyone agrees are wrong. With Christ as
our utterly perfect Umpire, we can rest in
perfect peace, whether our fickle feelings say
peace or not. Because of Jesus, we have the
assurance of an eternal resolution to every bad call
in eternity, and access to the transcendent
serenity this side of heaven. Isabella Yosuico
Faith Step: How can peace be the umpire
of a situation youre facing today? Ask Jesus
to help give you His peace that surpasses
understanding (Philippians 4:7). [Mornings With Jesus 2020
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
I speak to you from the depths of
eternity. Before the world was formed, I AM! You hear
Me in the depths of your being, where I have
taken up residence. I am Christ in you, the hope
of Glory. I, your Lord and Savior, am alive
within you. Learn to tune in to My living Presence
by seeking Me in silence.
As you celebrate the wonder of My birth
in Bethlehem, celebrate also your rebirth into
eternal life. This everlasting gift was the sole
purpose of My entering your sin-stained world.
Receive My gift with awe and humility. Take time to
explore the vast dimensions of My Love. Allow
thankfulness to flow freely from your heart in response
to My glorious gift. Let My Peace rule in your
heart and be thankful. (Psa. 90:2; Col. 1:27;
3:15) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Colossians 3:15a - Living the Peace of
Christ.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2013/20130228-1921.html
Philippians 4:6-7 - Peace Beyond
Understanding.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190511-1519.html
Isaiah 26:3 - Peace That Surpasses All
Understanding.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200303-1410.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
