And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing 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.
COLOSSIANS 3:15-17
“Powder Blue” – a timeless classic. That was the color that my older sister chose for her bridesmaids’ dresses in 1983. As the Maid of Honor, I went right along with her choice and at the time, I thought it was a beautiful color. To top it off, the groomsmen had matching powder blue tuxedos. It was the 80’s after all!
So, Powder Blue was the color I was wearing when I first read Colossians 3 at her wedding. I wasn’t a Christian then, and I was more concerned with performing the piece correctly for the wedding than understanding its meaning. Years later, having met the Prince of Peace, the “peace of Christ ruling in my heart” has developed a greater significance.
Everyone wants peace. I don’t know anyone who enjoys being in conflict and constant turmoil. Yet our desire for peace doesn’t match our experience of it. Peace can seem so fleeting. So much of life is anything but peaceful. And over time, we can begin to view peace as a feeling that comes and goes, determined by the situations life happens to throw at us. That leaves us looking for ways to experience more peace.
Sometimes we look to spiritual experiences for peace: a moving worship gathering, an intense time of prayer, a profound Bible study, or even an insightful devotional email. We may have a feeling of “peace,” but it is short-lived, needing the next experience to keep it going.
The peace that Paul describes is more than a fleeting feeling. Colossians 3 teaches us that peace is to “rule in our hearts.” That’s continual, constant, governing- type peace. In order to have that kind of peace, we must continually surrender in devotion to Christ. As we do so, Christ’s peace becomes the foundation for our lives rather than something we have to chase.
In fact, Christ’s peace rules as Christ himself dwells within us. How can Christ dwell within us? We can follow the pattern mapped out here in Colossians and begin to incorporate these practices into our lives. We let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly by reading His word. We can engage in community with each other, reciting Psalms, singing spiritual songs, and cultivating gratitude together. By doing this, we invite God to do only what He can do: give us peace, His abounding peace. And over time, that peace will be abounding in us, guarding over all we do, regardless of what happens around us. And when we have God’s peace, it will overflow from us, abounding as a blessing which spreads to others.
QUESTIONS
- How can you set aside time today to express your desire to God for this kind of peace, that dwells in you, richly and then how can it be a blessing to others?
PRAYER
Today’s devotional was prayed over and prepared by Rena Tolson, Director of Connections