Letting Peace Be the Referee Of My Life

In review of Colossians 3:15 it says, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful!”

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.

Bottom line:

Be thankful and let the peace of God rule in your hearts.

What this means to me:

As part of the body of Christ, I was chosen to live with others in peace. So let the peace and gratefulness that comes from Christ control all of my thoughts.

Paul tells me to put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within me. I am to have nothing to do with them. Instead I am to put on my new nature, and be renewed as I learn to know my Creator and become like him. In this new life, Christ is all that matters, and he lives in me. Therefore I must clothe myself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I must make allowances for other's faults, and forgive then. Above all, I need to clothe myself with love and let the peace of Christ rule in my heart and be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill my life. Then teach and counsel others with all the wisdom he gives. Whatever I do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus.

The word rule comes from the language of athletics: Paul tells me to let Christ's peace be umpire or referee in my heart. My heart is the center of conflict because there my feelings and desires clash. Paul explains that I must decide between conflicting elements by using the rule of peace.