Word of Salvation – Vol.45 No.05 – February 2000
Living In The Peace Of Christ
Sermon by Rev. P. Smit on Colossians 3:15-17
Scripture Readings: Philippians 4:2-9
Suggested Hymns: BoW 314; 450; 415; 416; 169
Beloved in the Lord.
If there is anything in this life that seems hard to find, it must be peace. Nations rise against one another, anger raises its ugly head when conflict over issues arises. Fault lines of disunity run through families and relationships when conflicts go unresolved. Life sometimes spirals downward like a plane out of control and peace seems like the last emotion you could possibly feel.
Maybe, like me, you’ve had nights staring at the ceiling as that concern of yours presses down on you like a heavy weight; you can’t seem to squeeze out from under it. You may even pray, but having left your fear with Christ, you return to it and pick it up yet again.
In the midst of this, how can we find peace? Today God’s Word tells us where to find it: “In Christ.”
In chapter 3:1, God tells us that we must set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated.
In chapter 3:15, we see that our hearts will only find peace in him.
Let’s read 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 first command God gives us here is:
- Let Christ’s peace rule in your heart.
This is not God’s wish list for us. God calls us to do this. It is a call to action. Let Christ’s peace rule in your life.
The word ‘rule’, in the original Greek language, means to have an umpire decide, to have as a referee. The idea is that we must let Christ’s peace in us be the umpire of our actions. Now before his peace can umpire our life, it needs to be there. You must have the umpire on the field before you can start playing properly. Imagine a cricket game without anyone to appeal to. It would be mayhem out there. The bowler would call “How’s that!” The batsman would put his arms on his hips and say, coolly, “No I’m not.” You’d have conflict pretty quick, with no umpire.
If Christ’s peace is to umpire your life, you need to know Christ. When the disciples saw that Jesus could calm the storm, they began to know peace. When they understood Jesus would always be with them by his Spirit, they began to rest in his peace. When they learned to trust Christ, and not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer bring their requests to God, they found the supernatural power of God’s peace flood over their lives. That peace stood guarding their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
So, when Paul and Silas, in Acts 16, were broken and bleeding from being whipped, locked in a jail, they could sing praises to God. Why? Because Christ’s peace was in their hearts. His peace was umpiring their lives. They knew he had their futures in his hands.
Is the peace of Christ standing right in the middle of the field of your life, umpiring? Or is his peace in the stands, looking in from the outside? Why is it, that when we can know his peace, we struggle to release our control and trust in Him? Why is it?
Oswald Chambers has a great devotional called “My Utmost for His Highest”. He says this,
“When peace does not come, keep seeking him till it does, or find out the reason why it does not. If you are acting on an impulse, or from a sense of the heroic, the peace of Jesus will not witness to you; there is not simplicity or confidence in God, because the spirit of simplicity is born of the Holy Ghost, not of your decisions.”
Putting it simply, “Jesus’ peace will not come, until you rest your trust in him.” We need to trust Jesus completely. For His peace to umpire our lives, we need to trust him, He must be first in us. When his peace is in me, then I will ask myself, “Will my words and my actions bring about the peace God wants for me and my family?”
If Christ’s peace is in you, that peace will be a referee on your actions. You’ll know when you’ve done something wrong; the Holy Spirit will prompt you. You will change your actions to bring about peace. Which of your actions need to change to bring peace in your family, your church, your community?
Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. Jesus said, in John 14:27, “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.”
That peace is not just for you individually. Verse 15 says, “since as members of one body you were called to peace.” This is a word for us, as the church. Because in the church, sometimes, people don’t see things eye to eye.
In Philippians 4:2 Paul pleaded with two women, Euodia and Syntyche, to agree. It’s no different today. We, too, as God’s church may not see eye to eye on all things, but we must let God’s peace in us be the umpire of our actions. We must strive to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit through the bond of peace. So obey God’s call here, and do all you can to strive for peace with your church family.
On the issue of peace, please remember, your peace does not come from your circumstances. Your peace comes from Christ. Don’t look to your circumstances, look to Christ. Circumstances change, Jesus Christ never changes, and his peace will always be there for you.
The second call to action in this passage is to
- Be thankful.
Benjamin Franklin said, “The sentence which has most influenced my life is, ‘Some persons grumble because God placed thorns among roses. Why not thank God because He placed roses among thorns?’ I first read it when but a mere lad. Since that day it has occupied a front room in my life, and has given it an optimistic trend.”
Are you someone that sees the thorns rather than the roses? Someone that complains about all those thorns, just waiting there to prick your finger or catch your clothing or disturb your comfort, when all the while, there are sweet fragrant roses massed among them. And before your eyes is a carpet of colour, and perfume, waiting to awaken your delight.
Thankfulness flows from people who can see the flowers among the thorns. Thankful people see what God is doing, and they are filled with gratitude for his blessings and gifts.
How our Lord’s heart must be delighted in our thankfulness. Are you a thankful person? Do tell the Lord how grateful you are for his blessings, for all the rich flowers of his grace among the thorns in this life. When Christ’s peace is dwelling in your life, you will become more and more thankful. Begin this week, by thanking God for all his blessings.
- Let Christ’s word dwell in your heart.
Let it dwell richly in your heart. The original language means, “Let there be an abundance of Christ’s word in you. Let his word be overflowing in your life.” Because you can only be transformed into his likeness as your mind and thoughts are following his will. As the Scripture says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Christ’s Word changes our thinking, our attitudes.
I know in my own life that my attitudes change when God’s Word is directing me. When I am in the driver’s seat and not God’s Word, the old man begins to take over. God’s Word has been and still is my best weapon against wrong thinking and sin and temptation. Sometimes we need teaching, sometimes we need admonishing, sometimes we need an encouraging word of wisdom and insight. His word in us will enable us to truly worship.
That’s what Paul tells us here:
3.a Let it (i.e., God’s Word) dwell in you as you worship.
Did you know that when you sing to God, not only do you praise him, but you teach others, you are ministered to by the church as you hear songs, psalms, hymns sung in our worship services. As we sing we are taught, we are all challenged, we are encouraged in God’s Word and truth.
I love our worship. Our minds lifted to Christ. The truth in the songs cause us to grow in his Word. The Holy Spirit uses worship for our growth as well as for God’s praise.
How committed are you to worship? Worship is something God calls us to do, not just by ourselves, but with all God’s people, where we can be encouraged and nurtured in His Word. Even as we sing…! As we do that, as we sing from the psalms, as we use the words of the hymns, and as we sing new songs to the Lord, our God desires us to do that with gratitude.
As you sing to him today, and next Sunday, God calls you to do that with deep thankfulness for what he has done for you, in giving up his Son Jesus Christ. We are to let Christ’s peace rule our hearts. We are to be thankful. We are to let his Word richly dwell in us, even as we worship.
Now, lastly, God tells us to:
- Do all for the glory of Christ.
May your words, and deeds be done for Christ. For the glory of his Name. Whether you drive a truck, or work in an office; whether you clean nappies, or vacuum a house; whether you study at school, or college or university; whether you do sport, running or swimming; whatever you do, whatever you say – remember that your over-arching goal is to bring glory to your God. Do all that you do to bring glory to God’s Name.
When an athlete competes in the Olympics, they are there for their country. When they receive a medal, they did their best not just for themselves but for the greater goal of honouring their country. So, too, with you. Your greater goal is to be able to stand on the day of Christ’s coming and say, “Lord I did my utmost for you, I have done my very best for the honour and glory of your Name. You saved me, and now all my life I have sought to bring you glory for that.”
Let us seek to live in Christ’s peace. Let us be thankful, living in the riches of God’s Word, and let us do all for the glory of his Name.
Amen.