Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you
Colossians 3:15-17
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
The smart phone is considered the greatest invention of all time because it incorporates so many other great inventions.
In 2007, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs unveiled a revolutionary product that not only broke the mold but also set an entirely new paradigm for computer-based phones. The smartphone is a handheld personal computer with a mobile operating system and an integrated mobile broadband cellular network connection for voice, text, and Internet data communication. In September 2013, the iPhone 5S became the first smartphone on a major U.S. carrier. Life has never been the same since.
Our acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior provides us with a whole new identity. Our lives have never been the same since. We are to put aside our old way of doing things and assume a new one. One aspect of our new self is not merely peace with God. In our new identity, we have within ourselves the peace of the Father Himself. As we assume a new identity, the peace of Christ will begin to rule our hearts.
Colossians 3:15 let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.
The Greek word translated rule is brabeuo. Brabeuo was a term used for those who were a judge or umpire at the public games. It came to mean to direct, be in control of someone’s activity by making a decision. It is not a term for ruler or leader, but rather umpire or arbitrator. Bruce translates, “Let the peace of Christ be arbiter in your hearts.” Peace should dominate and regulate our responses.
The peace of Christ should become the decision maker, the umpire, the arbitrator of all concerns, disagreements, offenses, that rise up between children of the King.
In baseball and umpire calls balls and strikes. In basketball they call fouls. In football they call penalties, field goals, and touchdowns. Paul is telling us that we have been in internal umpire that should rule from within. That umpire is the inward peace of Christ. Peace itself should rule and prevail over anger, hurt feelings, offenses and slights, or strong arguments and disagreements.
Putting it in other terms, the peace of Christ should be maintained within and between children of the King no matter what! We are called “to live in peace.” When we do not “we are out of bounds.” Perhaps we need to spend some time in the “penalty box.”
This is easy to say, it is not so easy to do. But we are commanded to do it, nonetheless. It is a way of life that we choose to practice and work towards.
REFLECT & PRAY
Rather than allowing anxious thoughts and fears to control my life, I can let the peace which the Father has provided within to rule my heart.
Father as difficult and trying times come, encourage me to set my heart fully on you and allow your peace to rule and reign in my heart.
INSIGHT
Do not let your worst overwhelm your best. Rather, let your best overcome your worst fears and impulses. It is never easy, but it is always right. Peace is not merely the lack of an outward attitude of hostility. Rather it is “the peace of Christ” within maintaining a calm, supernatural serenity.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you
Perfect peace can be realized in the life of any child of the King. When we keep our mind focused on the Father, rather than the circumstances or wrongs suffered. In When we trust in Him, He actualizes His peace within us. The Father promises to wipe tears away from all faces (Isaiah 25:8).
The Hebrew word translated peace is shalom. Shalom has a much richer connotation than the English word peace. It conveyed not merely the lack of conflict and turmoil but also the notion of positive blessing, especially in terms of a right relationship with the Father.
Psalms 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Peace is not merely the absence of danger or turmoil, but the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of it. He provides inward “heart” peace. He enables us to experience “that calm of mind which is not ruffled by adversity, overclouded by sin or a remorseful conscience, or disturbed by the fear and the approach of death” (Eadie).
In the world there will always be turmoil, adversity, suffering, and misunderstanding.
John 16:33 In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Before there was instant replay in sports, whenever there was a close call, all eyes were fixed on the umpire awaiting his decision. Whenever we become troubled, we should fix our eyes on the Father, seeking His approval for what we choose next. Allow Him to step in and decide. His choice is peace.
Like the old Fox News slogan, we report you decide, the choice is yours.
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Dr H Reflections 