Day 43 - Peace

Here’s a little piece of trivia for you: The word for “peace” occurs eighty times in the New Testament. It occurs in every book of the New Testament. How about that? It must be significant.

There is a section of Scripture in Colossians 3:1-17 that is entitled “Rules for Holy Living.” It’s a subsection of a section called “What Christians Should Do.” Take a few minutes to read this passage in God’s Word.

It begins with an encouragement for Christians to set their minds on things above, which means that we are to strive to make heaven’s priorities our daily practice. Paul encourages the Colossian Christians to put to death those practices that give in to earthly, carnal desires, as well as greed and idolatry. He reminds them that they used to practice all those things, but they have been made new creatures in Christ.

Paul then calls them God’s chosen people—holy, dearly loved, compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. He urges them to bear with each other’s weaknesses and to be forgiving—as Christ forgave them. And then he says for them to put on love, which binds all of those virtues together in “perfect unity.”

Take a closer look at verse 15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” The word rule, here, is the word that is equivalent to an umpire or a referee. After all, it is in our hearts where conflicts take place (James 4:1). And who better to referee those conflicts than the peace of Christ? So how do we do that? We ask ourselves this: which choice will promote peace in our souls and in our Christian community?

Sometimes we enjoy the challenge of conflict, especially when the motives, engagement, and outcomes bring out the best in those participating. In athletics, great competition among equals can strengthen mutual respect. But within the circumstances of competition and conflict there is the very real possibility that Satan can find a foothold (Ephesians 4:25-27). So when all is said and done, we must open our hearts and minds to the rest and gentleness of the peace of Christ. In short, make peace your reputation. People are much more likely to offer friendship and assistance to a person of peace. They are also more likely to share their hurts and difficulties with a gentle and peaceful spirit. Seasoned sailors don’t mind the challenge of choppy seas occasionally, but to a person, they all prefer to run through navigable waters with a full wind in their sail.

Paul ends this section encouraging the Christians to be thankful in everything: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Do you let the peace of Christ referee the conflicts in your heart?

Are you willing to turn them over to Him and His peace?