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March 7, 2012
How Do I Let Peace Rule? |
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
No more able are we to drive the rain back into the clouds by holding hands to the sky...
Or stretch a rainbow's colors wide by scurrying to grasp its tails...
Or force the tides to retreat by running at the sea...
No more capable of these feats are we, than to pursue and capture peace.
Peace.
That for which the world wars. Families crumble. People roam. That for which we compromise, and improvise, and televise: It's here... if only you race after it with your time, your money, your life.
But for all our chasing, we never lay hold of peace. Not until we reckon with these nine words that beckon a stillness. A truth that causes shoulders to fall and jaws to relax. This scripture tells us there's peace a' plenty, free for all.
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15 NIV).
If we're to find peace, we must become a pupil of He who is our Peace, Jesus Christ. He who is the Word. And this bit of Word, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts," is a fine educator.
This truth teaches us to slow down. Those two strong words, "let" and "rule" mean to "umpire" our hurried heart. So when circumstances crumble and we worriedly scramble to right them, we are taught to pause and call our heart to peace. How do we do this? Through intimate knowledge of He who is our Peace.
Christ is just, as Esther's courage and Haman's defeat reflects. (Esther 7)
Christ redeems, as Job's great loss and even greater gain assures. (Job 42:7-17)
Christ is trustworthy, as His promised resurrection proves. (Matthew 28:1-10)
Christ controls the storms, as calmed winds and waves attest. (Mark 4:35-41)
It will take time to teach our hearts to let peace rule. Umpires don't begin careers in the World Series. Indeed, umpires go through rigorous training and schooling. They must work for years in the minor leagues before even dreaming of the majors.
We too must set our heart and mind to learning. A good place to start is with the minors. Calling our hearts to peace when running late, dinner burns, scrapes and bruises happen, and fender benders occur. This is our practice and preparation for when the doctor calls, the pink slip is given, the papers are served, and the accusations fly.
We call our hearts to trust in He who is faithful to us in the small things, so we learn His character again and again. This gives our hearts the training needed to know He is trustworthy to us in the big things, the in-between things... everything.
Each call leads to another, which leads to an eventual place of surety. A place where the chase ends. And peace begins.
Dear Lord, You are our Peace. Teach me Your ways, direct me in Your truth. Help me relax my shoulders, loosen my tense jaw, calm my hurried heart. I want to know You more and more. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Share the One who is Peace with a child in need through Compassion International.
Click here to join Melissa Taylor's newest online Bible study of An Untroubled Heart by Micca Campbell
Visit Samantha's site for more about Him who is our peace and a give-away of An Untroubled Heart.
Reflect and Respond:
Do you tend to focus more on circumstances or on Jesus' power over the circumstances?
Memorize three verses about peace over the next three weeks. Call them out to your heart when trouble comes.
Power Verses:
Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (NIV 1984)
Ephesians 2:14, "For he himself is our peace..." (NIV)
© 2012 by Samantha Reed. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616G MatthewsMint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Wednesday, 07 March 2012.
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