The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:15,
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."
What is this "peace of Christ" Paul speaks of here?
It has been often observed that what people seek in life is peace and prosperity. This kind of peace fits in with: "I want my stuff and I don't want to be disturbed." This is not the kind of peace Paul is looking at. We know the peace of Christ Paul has in mind fits into a context where we will be disturbed. The Lord told us, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." Revelation 3:19. Believers have exchanged the pursuit of peace and prosperity for something much greater - righteousness. Those who pursue righteousness are going to be disturbed, they are going to have their lives disrupted.
The peace Paul points to is what we should pursue in our interaction with others. The Lord has provided us what we need to live peaceably with others. In another place Paul said, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18. In the Colossian context Paul speaks of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are asked to bear with others, forgive what grievances we may have with others, and love others. Colossians 3:12-14. The toolbox that makes possible living with others peaceably contains these tools. We should note that his exhortation is for when it "depends on you." I suspect this is the case more often than we might wish to admit it.
The equipping we have as believers for living peaceably with others is found in several passages. Two of them are, Galatians 5:22-23, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" and 2 Peter 1:3, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." This would include living peacefully with others.
While the Lord may use others in our lives in very uncomfortable ways to mold us into the image of Jesus Christ, he nevertheless provides us with all we need to live peaceably with others. This is just simply the way our Lord is.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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