Jump Start # 1074

Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

  In our verse today, Paul begins this sentence and the following sentence with the word “Let.” Here he says, ‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.’ The next verse begins, ‘Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.” Let peace rule…let the word dwell.

The word “let” moves things into our category. Let means allow. Let is something that we do. There are other ‘let’ verses in the New Testament, such as in Hebrews, where we find, “let us draw near with a sincere faith,” and,  “let us hold fast the confession of our faith,” and “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” Let. Do this. Allow this.

Let is something that we do. We let the dog out. We let our hair grow. We let things bother us. We let things go that we ought to do. Letting is our part of things. Paul wanted the brethren to LET the peace of Christ rule in their hearts.

Peace. Jesus is called the prince of peace. The angels announced at His birth that He came to bring peace on earth. The standard answer that people give for what they wish for is world peace. The peace of Christ has to do with our relationship with God. It isn’t about treaties, war, alliances or one nation and another nation. There’s always going to be wars, because there’s always going to be sin. Paul’s peace is about us and God. The peace of Christ means that we have been reconciled with God. We are no longer enemies with God. For that to happen, forgiveness of sins must take place. Our sins is what  makes us enemies with God. God is holy and we are not. God is righteous and we are not. Christ is the bridge. Faith in Christ brings salvation. That brings peace with God.

Long ago, the expression “Rest In Peace,” or, RIP, was found on many tombstones. That was a hopeful thought that the loved ones put on the grave of the departed. They wanted them to be resting in peace. That comes about when a person has lived in peace. That happens when the peace of Christ rules our hearts.

When the peace of Christ rules our hearts, it means that it controls our hearts. Our thinking, our decisions, our choices, our words are governed by the peace of Christ. Jesus rules our heart. He commands our hearts. He shapes and molds our hearts.

The opposite of peace of Christ ruling your heart is having worry, or fear, or anger, or doubt, or sin rule your heart. Those things will really affect us. They keep us up at night. They steal our appetites. They make us nervous and we become obsessed with those things. They surface in nearly every conversation. It shows on our face. They change us, and it’s not a change for the better. The expression ’worried to death,’ is often true. Those that do not have a foundation and an anchor in a storm will get this way. It’s natural. Your world is falling apart and you have nothing to hold on to. It is scary and you wonder if you are going to make it through to the other side safely. Many don’t. That bothers you as well. Who does the atheist turn to when he needs help? Where does the unbeliever go when the bottom drops out? For some, the answer lies in a fanciful ’it will get better’ dream. Others live in denial. Some just want to be numb so they don’t face the problems. Their choice is drugs and alcohol.

The believer has something to hold on to. The believer has something within him. He has the peace of Christ that is ruling his heart. That peace will keep him from giving up. That peace will allow him to carry on. That peace will keep him steady and calm with everyone else is in panic mode. The peace of Christ. Jesus is upon the throne and always will be. Jesus is who our trust is in. The Old Testament warned about putting trust in horses and bows and the strength of men. Our trust is not in this nation. Our trust lies in Christ.

The peace of Christ—not just in you. Not just existing, but ruling your heart. Christ is at the wheel. Christ keeps you out of the ditches of life. You must LET that happen. There are some things that we must give to God in prayer and then trust Him. He knows. He’ll see us safely through to the other side.

Let the peace of Christ rule your heart. Are you letting that happen?

Roger