Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:15-17
Scripture Notes
Peace can be mistaken for avoidance, silence, or even apathy. What we are to learn from letting the peace of Christ rule our hearts is to measure what needs to be done by His Word. There is nothing idle or inactive about harmony. Peace takes work and intentionality. Instead of silence, we are to test the spirit (1 John 4:1-3), provide encouragement with accountability (Eph. 4:29), and speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). This means confrontation in the best of terms, not to bring people down or to judge, but to build each other up. We also need to set our ego aside and let Christ govern and judge.
And how are we to have the peace of Christ? We are to remember that we are one body, one people, all followers of Christ. As believers, we are spending too much time categorizing, excluding, labeling, and condemning. As the NASA astronaut Victor Glover from Artemis II said: “In all of this emptiness — this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe — you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist (in) together.” If we, as humankind, should see ourselves as one, how much more should believers look at each other and ensure we stand, act, serve, and love as one?”
We stand in unity, not without confrontation, but with intention and refocus. Instead of bickering among ourselves, we redirect our attention to the message of Christ, one of love and redemption. To do this, we pour out our spirit. We sing, we dance, we create, we inspire. Keeping words of praise on our minds and lips leaves no room for complaints, division, or ego. Instead, we recognize that life is a gift and are grateful for all it offers, both the good and the bad.
People often get the misapprehension that if religious words are peppered into their vocabulary, then they are following the command in vs 17. We are to have kindness and compassion flowing from us, but using religious language does little if there is no real intention behind it. Our words and deeds should naturally flow from us, like clean water from a glacier, not be forced or overused for self-aggrandizement. For some, it might be a slow and steady cleaning up of one’s life, what they say, how they react, etc. For others, it might be recognizing true intention and rectifying when personal glory attempts to overshadow the Father’s.
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus is an invitation to draw closer to God, not as an act of perfectionism or to find the one right choice. There is no one right choice, and perfection is not possible in our human form. We will make poor choices and fall short. It is not our failings that define us, but what we do to get back up. Do we call on the Lord, or do we trust more in ourselves? Do we mend what was broken, or do we walk away, leaving fractures behind? Do we seek wisdom and guidance, or do we sink deeper into our own self-absorption and ignorance? The difference is whether we are in the Word, soaking in the richness of wisdom and letting it dwell upon our hearts. So much so that words of praise cannot help but break free.
MEMORY VERse
René Janssens. Interior with fireplace, writing desk and harp, 1880 – 1936. The Rijksmuseum
Related Verses
More verses about praise and worship:
Prayer Invitation
Application Questions
- What obstacles do you sense are hindering you from experiencing the peace of Christ and letting it take precedence in your heart? (ex. fear, busyness, anger, anxiety)
- How does being part of “one body” alter how you approach conflict and accountability with other believers? Are you boiling connections or creating divisions?
- What does it mean to you to have the Message of Christ dwell richly within rather than simplistically or insubstantially?
- In what ways do your daily choices honestly prove that you are doing them in the name of the Lord? When are they not? How can you change your decisions to be better aligned with the message of love and redemption?
- In ways, does the practice of gratitude transform your perspective? In what ways have you seen a change from when you were ungrateful?
- Which do you find most difficult to apply to your life: a heart of peace, dwelling deeply in the Word, or having a heart of gratitude? Why and what obstacle is standing in your way?
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