Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. ~ Colossians 3.15
Like an umpire at a baseball game or a judge in a courtroom, we often need someone or something to step in to direct our decisions moving forward. In today’s verse we see that the “peace of Christ” is to rule in our hearts. The word “rule” in this verse has a connotation similar to an umpire or a judge. The peace we’ve received through Jesus is supposed to help us deliberate and decide how we will react toward one another. Peace is the umpire.
This may be a foreign concept. To be honest, it’s easy to let negative emotions rule our hearts and our interactions with others. Fear, bitterness, anxiety, and greed all make lousy umpires. They cause us to be self-protective and self-seeking. But the Body of Christ is different. Because Jesus has given us everything in his death and resurrection, we can live with gratitude.
Take a moment to consider a situation where you’ve let an emotion other than peace rule in your heart. Take a few minutes to journal and turn that situation over to God. We won’t experience the peace of Christ until we learn to relinquish our control to Christ. He wants to guide you and help you, but he waits for us to hand it over to him. Conclude your journal with a prayer of gratitude.
