Colossians 3:12-17 (RSV)
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
In our quest for peace...true peace...in marriage, parenting, ministry and life, God first reminds us of who we are in Jesus. In Jesus we are chosen, holy, and dearly loved. Our new identity in Jesus compels us to clothe ourselves with the attributes of Jesus like humility and compassion. Then, when we realize how much we have been forgiven by Jesus and the cost of our forgiveness, we humbly grant forgiveness to those who sin against us. But by far the most significant step toward peace has been LOVE. Love is a choice to joyfully and sacrificially give what is best for another.
Those are the prerequisites for peace. That is the foundation for peace.
Now, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
Allow the shalom of Jesus to govern your thinking, your emotions, your affections, and your will.
Do you feel like life is crazy, spinning out of control?
Do you feel like you don't control your schedule, your schedule controls you?
Do you lie awake in bed at night fretting, fearing, worrying, shaking with anxiety?
Do you feel like you are so busy you don't have time to think?
Stop! Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
Allow the shalom of Jesus to govern your thinking, your emotions, your affections, and your will.
Shalom is the Old Testament Hebrew word for peace. Shalom means completeness, wholeness, quiet, tranquility, contentment.
Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.Then in the New Testament we find the fulfillment of God's promises for peace centered around Jesus.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Ezekiel 37:26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.Peace means harmony, security, "the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is." (Thayer) Peace is calm, quiet confidence in the power of God. Peace is calm, quiet dependence on the Spirit. Peace is calm, quiet contentment in Jesus.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:14 For Jesus Himself is our peace.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
But this verse is not a magic formula for peace. This verse is a command: let the peace of Christ rule, allow the peace of Christ to rule. The word "rule" means govern, direct, put in order, control. Our hearts are always controlled by something or someone. Our hearts are never neutral. Our hearts are controlled by what we love most -- self or Jesus. The command in this verse is a call to choose Christ. Surrender control of your heart to Christ! The reason we do not enjoy peace is because we allow our hearts to be ruled and delighted by something other than Jesus and His Spirit.
But maybe this sounds a little too abstract. "What does it look like to surrender my heart to Christ?" "How do I know my heart is controlled by Christ?"
The answer is the very next verse. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
These verses are in parallel. We let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts by letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly. We know our hearts are controlled by Jesus if His Word is our delight and His Word saturates and guides our thinking.
I love John Wycliffe's translation of these verses from 1388, "And the peace of Christ enjoy in your hearts... The word of Christ dwell in you plenteously."
Enjoy Jesus, through His Word, by His Spirit and we will enjoy peace.
Thank you for sharing what the Holy Spirit is doing in your hearts and teaching you through His word. Truth is hard, because it is convicting. But it is also refreshing, because it sets us free. I am going to attempt to memorize this passage as well, and pray that it penetrates my heart.
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