40 Days of PEACE
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of PEACE
Day 3 | CHRIST’S RULE | Colossians 3:15
40 Days of PEACE
Day 3 | CHRIST’S RULE | Colossians 3:15
CHRIST’S RULE
Colossians 3:15
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Like in our devotional yesterday, the Apostle Paul is writing to one of the churches he started and is urging them to let Christ help them live in peace with one another. Even back then, there were issues and friction in the local churches… and tempers could get out of control.
I like what the Amplified Bible adds: “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]."
Sometimes – and Paul is acknowledging it here – there are genuinely two sides to an issue. So, he writes – under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration – to let Christ’s peace, Christ’s rule (He is LORD after all, right?) help decide and settle the issue so that we can (as members of the Body of Christ) live in peace and harmony with one another… a HIGH PRIORITY for our LORD.
And we should also note that this verse adds, “And be thankful.” Thanksgiving can be a significant step in unification.
Everyone has – from time to time – had a different opinion about an issue or a decision that needed to be made.
The Lord, in this verse, is teaching us that we must make our church decisions harmoniously, thankfully, peacefully, and in love with Christ and one another. I, for one, am thankful for that!
(Now, if we could get our national LEADERS to do this.)
Prayer: LORD, I do want to be at peace with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me, help us, when we have a difference of opinion, to seek YOU and YOUR peace, and then strive for a harmonious decision as we move forward together with thanksgiving. Amen.
Colossians 3:15
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Like in our devotional yesterday, the Apostle Paul is writing to one of the churches he started and is urging them to let Christ help them live in peace with one another. Even back then, there were issues and friction in the local churches… and tempers could get out of control.
I like what the Amplified Bible adds: “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]."
Sometimes – and Paul is acknowledging it here – there are genuinely two sides to an issue. So, he writes – under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration – to let Christ’s peace, Christ’s rule (He is LORD after all, right?) help decide and settle the issue so that we can (as members of the Body of Christ) live in peace and harmony with one another… a HIGH PRIORITY for our LORD.
And we should also note that this verse adds, “And be thankful.” Thanksgiving can be a significant step in unification.
Everyone has – from time to time – had a different opinion about an issue or a decision that needed to be made.
The Lord, in this verse, is teaching us that we must make our church decisions harmoniously, thankfully, peacefully, and in love with Christ and one another. I, for one, am thankful for that!
(Now, if we could get our national LEADERS to do this.)
Prayer: LORD, I do want to be at peace with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me, help us, when we have a difference of opinion, to seek YOU and YOUR peace, and then strive for a harmonious decision as we move forward together with thanksgiving. Amen.