Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Day 2 - Week 74 - Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

We, as Christians, are called to peace.  And we, as Christians, are to allow Christ's peace to govern our hearts.  And we, as Christians, are to be thankful.

We are to be a peace-driven people.  Why?  Because Christ, and His Spirit living with us, is our driver.  And when you look at the life of Christ you see peace.

Robert J. Morgan states, "Peace can be defined as God-given tranquility.  It's the ability to be patient instead of panicky, to be mature instead of impulsive, to keep our cool when others are losing theirs.  It's a quality that few of us come by naturally, but it came perfectly to Jesus."

Jesus was at peace with His Father because He knew Him so well and was completely submissive to His authority.  He never wavered in His desire to fulfill the mission that His Father had sent Him on.  He prayed for deliverance from the agony of the cross, but He knew that wherever His Father took Him, He would be ultimately delivered and once again home.  Peace comes through faith.

When you read the preceding verses in Colossians, you see that Paul is telling us that as Christians, we are to "clothe" ourselves in a particular fashion...and it's not what you'll be seeing on the runways this fall!

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:12-14

When I read this, I see someone getting dressed and putting on all of these pieces of attire: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience...and then putting in their pocket a handful of forgiveness, a gift that they have already been given and that they have ready to hand out to anyone who might need it.  And right before they walk out the door, they put on their coat of love, covering all.

As I dress today, that's what I'm going to think about.  And I think I might just put some kind of token in my purse or my pocket to remind me to be very ready to forgive as I've been forgiven. 

Following on those verses, Paul then tells us to let Christ's peace rule over us, and to be thankful.  It's hard to be unthankful when you are allowing Christ's peace to have control, isn't it?  After all, when you submit to His peace in your life, you remember that you have been given the greatest gift of all...salvation.  When looking through eyes that have been reborn, and that are filled with the peace of God, all that can be said is, "Thank You!"

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