….the peace that comes from Christ…
Peace.
We crave peace. We desire peace within ourselves and harmony with others. We purchase things to save us time to bring us more peace. We pursue activities in hopes of creating peace. We process with our friends about why we don’t have peace.
Where does peace come from?
“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Colossians 3:15, NLT).
Peace is the endgame of the “dead to me” philosophy we have discussed in the first three parts of this four-part series. When we put to death destructive behaviors addressed in Part 1, live from a place of knowing our Creator in Part 2, and practice thankfulness in Part 3, we will experience the peace our soul craves.
Refreshing, unspoiled, fulfilling peace does not come from things we purchase, activities we participate in, or the people we love the most dearly. As stated in verse 15, the peace we seek “comes from Christ”.
The Greek word used in Colossians 3:15 for peace is “eirene” (i-ray-nay), which can mean “one, peace, quietness, rest, or to set at one again.”[i] To set at one again… like a reset… Christ readjusts our turbulent inner world to quietness and peace.
The Amplified puts it this way.
Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed, you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. (Colossians 3:15)
The peace that comes from Christ is to rule, govern, and direct our hearts. Peace also bids us and calls us by name out loud; like the voice on the intercom at a store, peace calls us to live a life of quiet rest (ii)
Isaiah ties peace to the “dead to me” philosophy this way. “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32: 17, NIV). Our right choices, demonstrated by putting destructive behaviors to death, knowing our Creator, and practicing gratefulness, are a description of righteousness. Right living bears the fruit of peace.
Christ offers peace for the righteous and stands in for us as our righteousness. Christ as our righteousness is good news for those obsessed with getting things correct, struggle with overachieving, or attaining righteousness feels out of reach. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV).
This peace we desire, the inner calm when all hell is breaking loose, the peace that can reset our soul to a level of quiet and rest, a not-of-this-world kind of peace, only comes from Christ.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27, NLT).
Jesus shared these words of encouragement after he washed the disciple’s feet, had the Passover meal with them, and his betrayal was in process. Jesus knew what was about to happen. He wanted his disciples to know that while it may appear like everything they had worked hard for was falling apart, their hearts and minds could be reset to peace through Him.
Peace is the result of putting to death behaviors, knowing our Creator, and being thankful, a welcomed endgame to the “dead to me” philosophy. Peace is a gift Christ has offered us, but we need to open it.
I pray that you open the gift of peace from Christ, which reorganizes your mind, heart, and your entire world from the perspective that God loves you. May peace govern your life, and when things seem like they are falling apart, may you experience peace by standing up and taking charge. May God bless your efforts in practicing the “dead to me” philosophy, and then the peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind. So be it, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: I receive Your peace
Reflect: Would you say peace is ruling your life? Is there a destructive behavior that is blocking your peace? What is one thing you can do that will open the gift of peace more fully in your life? Will you allow Christ to reset your inner world with peace?
Deeper: Isaiah 9: 2-7; Luke 1:76-79; Philippians 4:4-9
This blog is a repost from November 2022.
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(Bible References: NLT – New Living Translation, NIV – New International Version, AMP – Amplified Version)
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[i] “G1515 – eirēnē – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 19 Oct, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1515/kjv/tr/0-1/>.
[ii] “G2564 – kaleō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 26 Oct, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2564/kjv/tr/0-1/>.
