“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15).
Americans are used to peace being the goal of war. Peace, not just as an absence of conflict, but the guarantee of fundamental freedoms appropriate to the dignity of human beings. The surviving citizens in Germany, Italy, and Japan, our enemies in World War II, came to experience greater peace in their homelands after defeat than they had under the despotic rule of fascist governments. With the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the question is whether we won, and the answer depends on whether we will see an enduring democratic government there that protects minority ethnic and religious groups.
Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, even though he said he did not come to bring peace but a sword. He was referring not to physical combat, but to a spiritual war for the hearts of sinners who had been lost to God. By his message of God’s love and his sacrificial death, he softened many hearts that had gotten hard against God. By his outpouring of the Holy Spirit and through communities of followers, he still wins hearts that have gotten disillusioned by the temptations of this age.
But even in these very communities, which are the agencies and outposts of his Kingdom, the battle goes on for the heart, because our hearts have been assaulted by deceits and wounded by betrayals and disappointments. Jesus noted that it is from our hearts that evil thoughts, lusts, and other such unclean disturbances spew out. So it is the gift of a new heart, through the washing and regeration of the Holy Spirit, that brings peace.
The new heart from Christ the Lord is the only place where we may experience true and lasting peace, which means that we must renounce the desperations of our old nature and receive the forgiveness and renewal of Christ before we can experience true peace. It takes a decision, an act of the will, often repeated and habitually ingrained.
Pastor Doyle,
These are just my random thoughts:
“Peace” in the Bible come from the Greek word (eireinei) which refers to a harmony between us and God, to me it is a word which describes the result of a person’s response to God’s Grace.
Peace with God is never available apart from Grace. The Cross of Christ is the focal point of Grace and is the source of Peace. Jesus Christ is our eternal Peace.
What a challenge, to let the peace of Christ rule our heart in Colossians 3:15. The peace of Christ is something which only Christ can give. Peace is a gift from God. True peace cannot be found outside of Christ.
This peace applies to the relationship between people, but more importantly to my relationship with God. There was a war between God and me, peace was the objective when Christ came and died on the cross. Many times throughout history men have tried to bring peace. We have tried to bring peace between us and God. We’ve tried to live a righteous life, tried to do right, but it didn’t work. In the death and resurrection of Christ, God made a way for peace, the peace that Christ gives is real.
We seek peace, a certain kind of peace. We negotiate between two parties, seeking a compromise, each person gives a little, so both can win a little. Counselors urge a husband and wife to set limits, what we refer to as a truce for the sake of the children. Courts mandate peace, people make threats in an effort to bring peace, people blackmail another to keep peace by keeping another quiet. All these methods don’t help me to attain real lasting peace, perhaps a temporary fix.
The peace that Christ gave changed my heart, I confess my pride and my self-seeking nature as sin. Forgiveness is found, peace is established.
Colossians 1:20 says that Jesus “made peace through the blood of His cross.” This peace begins with a transformation of my heart. I no longer have my own agenda for life, the only agenda I have is that of Christ. As in a ball game, there is an umpire who presides over the competition, Christ’s peace should umpire my heart. My heart is ruled by the peace of God.
I let the peace “make the call” when I have to make a decision. I must allow genuine, true, biblical, life-transforming peace rule my heart.
To let the peace of Christ rule my heart, means I can’t “make truces” with Satan so that I can just “get along” but still “have it my way.” I’ve got to forget about doing things my way, instead focus on doing things God’s way. To seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. I can’t demand my way and God’s way at the same time. I’ve got to lay down my arms, surrendering to God. Through that, I have peace with Christ, and let that peace rule my heart.
Amen, brother. Thanks for that.