"THE WEEKLY WORD"

    Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of Christs body, you were called to peace and to be thankful. -Colossians 3:15

As much as I read this verse regularly, wow does it say so much? This is actually the first time reading the verse on its own I realized the two thoughts of peace ruling our hearts and being thankful were connected in the same verse. Of course, in an earlier weekly word, I wrote about the previous verse about putting the garment of love on over all the other spiritual clothes. 

In this verse, the connection is just as beautiful. Lett the peace of God be the only character trait you hold in your heart. As I said, wow. That’s so difficult, yet that’s why it’s so beautiful too! Letting the peace of God rule in my heart no matter what I’m thinking, feeling, experiencing, rejoicing, or stressing about. Letting the peace of God rule in my heart even when I don’t feel too peaceful towards others or I just don’t feel anything at all. 

But I love the verse doesn’t stop there. Paul adds and be thankful. He truly is telling the people of this church that if the peace of Christ rules in your heart, it’s the only way you live, then you will be thankful. Peace will result in thanks! How awesome! 

So, do you and I feel that connection with peace and giving thanks as we go about our lives? I think we can safely say it’s not all the time; it may not even be present most days. Yet, here’s the wonderful idea behind all this. What if we had peace ruling our lives all the time? Would thanks result all the time? Would we in any and all circumstances give thanks, if in any and all circumstances we had peace! 

My prayer would be we will work at all this just a little more this week. When you feel yourself getting anxious, stressed out, or overwhelmed, just stop and say, Lord, bring your peace AND if you feel the Lord bringing that, you might just feel yourself bringing thanks to your lips a little more! Maybe if one is a little better, the other will come naturally too! It may be difficult, that’s why it’ll be beautiful! 

To God be the glory 

Pastor Brandon