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Let Peace Rule Our Hearts
Andrea Lende • February 19, 2021
Colossians 3:15
Let Peace Rule Our Hearts
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Let-Peace-Rule-Our-Hearts-eql7sv
Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace 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 one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].”
Paul tells us that peace should be our decision maker.
Where there are opposing sides, Paul writes that we should allow peace to be the referee.
I love his analogy about peace being an umpire.
We usually think about an umpire as the person behind the mask at a baseball game.
He judges and rules on all the plays.
And his ruling is final.
The umpire also settles disputes.
Similarly, Paul tells us the umpire for conflict in our lives is peace.
In fact, Paul tells us we ought to be in a peaceful state while we are making decisions.
In other words, we are not to make decisions in an upset state.
As we sit in peace, we are able to ascertain the answers to our questions by measuring whether that peaceful state continues or not.
So, if we become agitated while thinking about our problem, then we have not yet found the answer to our problem.
I think of a scale.
A scale or a balance that has two sides.
In its state of equilibrium, both sides of the balance are parallel or equal to one another.
If you put something on one side the weight causes the balance to fall to that side.
It is now out of balance.
Our state of equilibrium or balance is peace.
When that balance of peace shifts to one side or another we become out of balance and enter into conflict.
What does it take to bring us back into balance?
Peace brings us back to center.
Paul also tells us to give thanks to the Lord and praise Him.
When we are in a state of conflict or chaos or busyness, I find it difficult to raise my voice in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.
And that is our primary purpose here on earth – to worship.
Worship God Almighty.
Peace breeds worship.
I desire peace and I desire to worship our Lord.
Today I choose to let peace be the umpire in my spirit and give thanks and praise to God Almighty.
May you find that peace is your referee and directs your spirit as you worship the Lord.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me how to let peace be the umpire of my life. Thank You for showing me that this is essential for my well-being and for my relationship with You. Lord, help me seek peace and settle into peace as I worship You. You are God, Almighty and You are greatly to be praised! Please prune everything in my life that does not produce the fruit of peace. Help me listen to my heart and follow peace in all things, Father. May Your gentle whispers guide me as I walk through this day. Keep my eyes on You and my heart in worship of You. Thank You, Father, for making a way for me to rest in peace even while chaos ensues around me. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM the God of peace and I will lead you to the green pastures and restful waters My child.
Response: Thank You, most gracious and merciful Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.