Ruled by Peace

First things first. How many times in the book of Colossians do we come upon the reminders to be focused, to be fixed upon, to give attention to what is priority and not to be distracted by the interests of this world.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹

Paul gives us another set of priorities for our mindset as disciples which will agree with the nature of the LORD in whose image we are being renewed. Each trait is to be motivated by the same love that Jesus has demonstrated to us and those who were around Him during His incarnation.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ²

How are we to have the nature of Jesus demonstrated through our lives but by the change that comes with Jesus ruling in our hearts. We people tend to allow ourselves to be driven by our emotions but Paul is urging us to let our hearts be renewed in Christ so we respond to life as He responds—He is priority in our hearts. And, we let what is in our heart flow out, be evident, not merely contained for our enjoyment. We celebrate the LORD.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ³

If our hearts are fixed on Jesus and our desires are given over to His desires, then we will have the ‘want to’ of doing everything that honors who He is. And we will be thankful for making the difference that we have newness of life in Him.
Thank You, LORD!