40 Days of Thanks - 12
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of THANKSGIVING
Day 12 | THANKFUL FOR HIS PEACE
40 Days of THANKSGIVING
Day 12 | THANKFUL FOR HIS PEACE
THANKFUL FOR HIS PEACE
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.”
The Body of Christ – which seems to mean the local church here – was called to be peaceful one with another; it should characterize the community of God’s people. Further, PEACE is a standard for discerning God’s will.
Paul is saying: “let it rule.” The Greek word is “brabeuó” – which means to act as an umpire. Thus, if there is a doubtful issue to be decided, and one way disturbs the peace of the Body of Christ, it’s likely the WRONG decision.
It’s as if the verse could have said: “let the peace of Christ judge, decide, and govern in your hearts” like a judge does in Olympic events. Then, there are no issues; it’s decided. (Try to imagine the Olympics WITHOUT judges to issue the final decisions. Chaos!)
Consider the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, PEACE, patience … and the other five. So, if the Holy Spirit lives within us as a result of being born again, then when we are with other Believers, we should experience Christ’s rule, which results in PEACE since we are members of ONE body… the Body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12 and 13).
The result should be THANKFULNESS.
Our nation is more divided than at any time since – in my opinion – the Civil War back in the 1860s. We have wars going on in various places in the world – into which we have sent arms and personnel – so we are NOT all experiencing the peace of God, and certainly Christ is NOT ruling in the hearts of all our leaders.
But you and I CAN be thankful and peaceful and be one body as the Lord desires. Keep your eyes on HIM and look for ways to be grateful by yourself AND when you are with others.
Prayer: LORD, help me find ways to THANK YOU daily. You deserve it, and only my short memory keeps me from remembering ALL you have done AND do for me.
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.”
The Body of Christ – which seems to mean the local church here – was called to be peaceful one with another; it should characterize the community of God’s people. Further, PEACE is a standard for discerning God’s will.
Paul is saying: “let it rule.” The Greek word is “brabeuó” – which means to act as an umpire. Thus, if there is a doubtful issue to be decided, and one way disturbs the peace of the Body of Christ, it’s likely the WRONG decision.
It’s as if the verse could have said: “let the peace of Christ judge, decide, and govern in your hearts” like a judge does in Olympic events. Then, there are no issues; it’s decided. (Try to imagine the Olympics WITHOUT judges to issue the final decisions. Chaos!)
Consider the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, PEACE, patience … and the other five. So, if the Holy Spirit lives within us as a result of being born again, then when we are with other Believers, we should experience Christ’s rule, which results in PEACE since we are members of ONE body… the Body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12 and 13).
The result should be THANKFULNESS.
Our nation is more divided than at any time since – in my opinion – the Civil War back in the 1860s. We have wars going on in various places in the world – into which we have sent arms and personnel – so we are NOT all experiencing the peace of God, and certainly Christ is NOT ruling in the hearts of all our leaders.
But you and I CAN be thankful and peaceful and be one body as the Lord desires. Keep your eyes on HIM and look for ways to be grateful by yourself AND when you are with others.
Prayer: LORD, help me find ways to THANK YOU daily. You deserve it, and only my short memory keeps me from remembering ALL you have done AND do for me.
Posted in Thanksgiving