Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put-on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. (Col 3:12–25)
It's remarkable how the Word of God can offer us fresh perspectives and new insights every time we read it. Today, we want to focus on an imperative within the text. Although it may not appear as a command or line of instruction, it certainly is. Paul instructs us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts, and it's an imperative with no alternative but to obey or disobey. Upon reflection, it's a beautiful and comforting instruction.
One of the indicators that a person has been translated into the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a life marked by peace. Despite the current state of the world, those who follow Christ stand in marked contrast, as their lives, persons, and homes are characterized by peace.
However, I must admit that even after professing my faith in Christ, my life was not always marked by peace. For the longest time, I seemed to go from one crisis to another, from desperation to desperation, and from joy to despair. Chaos and confusion ruled my heart for many years. It did not mean that I didn't love God or want to serve Him; it simply meant that I didn't understand what living in Christ’s kingdom meant.
In John chapter 3, Jesus teaches Nicodemus that he cannot see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. Jesus emphasizes the ability to see and enter the kingdom. Although I am uncertain about the full meaning of this passage, it has a personal application for me. At 15, I was "born again" and could see Jesus as the king of His kingdom. However, I had little understanding of what that truly meant.
My struggle with finding peace was rooted in my double-mindedness. Though I passionately sang worship songs and prayed, applying those truths in my daily life was challenging. I hold myself fully responsible for the chaos I experienced. Attending church or listening to good preaching didn't make a difference. Regardless of the church, all sermons seemed to fall into two categories. The first was the notion that "you're a sinner and always will be until you die," a familiar Christian saying discouraging me. The other option was "Christian perfection," which made me acutely aware of my shortcomings but failed to offer practical ways to improve beyond simply "trying harder." Going to church became a cycle of trying to get motivated to try harder, with each service providing temporary inspiration that quickly faded. I felt like a circus act, and it was only by the grace of God that I barely managed to survive.
It was also comforting in one sense to realize that many of the people who tried to give me advice and guidance in my chaotic life were struggling with chaos in their own lives. You know, “misery loves company.”
While their chaos may have differed from mine, it was still chaos - perhaps with a more affluent flavour. They were dealing with bad business relationships, troubled marriages, disrespectful children, or children who had left the faith after college. Yet, despite their struggles, they believed that their position or title in the church gave them the authority to correct my confusion. Even though I may not be the most intelligent person, it was clear that they were not necessarily in a position to solve my problems.
However, God's faithful Word offered a solution. As I committed to reading and allowing it to shape me, I began to see what it meant to live and walk in His kingdom.
The prince of peace is Jesus, an unchanging truth that is affirmed in both the Old and New Testaments. Therefore, peace is the hallmark of His kingdom. When we confess to being reborn in Christ, raised into a new life and transferred into the domain of the beloved Son, what characterizes this realm? It is unmistakably peace!
Isaiah 9:6-7 prophesies about the coming of a child who will be called the "Prince of Peace" and who will establish a kingdom of peace that will have no end. This child is Jesus.
John 14:27, Jesus himself declares, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Romans 14:17, Paul describes the kingdom of God as "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Colossians 1:13-14 states, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Ephesians 2:14 says, "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility."
For those who claim to follow Christ, the key to finding peace amidst the unrest, confusion, and fear that permeates our world is rooted in understanding who God is, what He has done on our behalf, and what it means to live in His kingdom. However, as I have observed over the years, many believers choose to live according to the principles and values of the world's kingdoms, such as pride, ambition, greed, fear and selfishness, rather than following the principles of the kingdom of God. This can lead to chaos and confusion, even in Christian homes and places of worship.
If you desire peace, it is important to recognize that it can only be found in Jesus, the peace author. Allowing Christ to reign in your heart is the key to experiencing peace. As Paul instructs, we should mind our business and work hard with our hands.
One simple phrase that brings peace to me almost immediately is a phrase I have learned from my wife "Not my Circus, Not my Monkeys!" This means we avoid involving ourselves in other people's chaotic situations. There are always individuals whose lives and relationships are in disarray. These are not those stumbling upon hard times. These are people who live in constant chaos. One simple phrase that brings peace to me almost immediately is a phrase I have learned from my wife "Not my circus, not my monkeys" This means we avoid involving ourselves in other people's chaotic situations. There are always individuals whose lives and relationships are in disarray. These are not those stumbling upon hard times. These are people who live in constant chaos. They may seem to seek our help or advice but spread rumours, and gossip, in the guise of asking for help, but they generally are trying to manipulate us into taking sides, presumably theirs. To this, I say beware. This is often a ploy used to suck one into their chaotic world. Instead, choose to align yourselves with the principles of the Kingdom, such as forgiveness, reconciliation, and love. Instead of taking sides stay in the peace of God, and don't take on other people's offences.
If you want peace, be grateful for the gift of His son, Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace. Our struggles with finding peace are rooted in our doublemindedness, but His faithful Word offers a solution. Commit to reading and allowing His Word to shape you so that you may live and walk in His kingdom, characterized by peace. My prayer for you and for myself today is that God fills us with His peace that surpasses all understanding, guiding us with His grace and love.
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