"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..." - Colossians 3:15a ASV
That word 'rule' is the Greek word brabeuō (Strong's G1018) and it means to govern or umpire. This tiny passage hidden in Colossians is likely where the idea of 'Christ coming into our hearts' comes from.
Some folks have a problem with an altar call that leads people in a prayer to have Christ come into a person's heart and I understand why. Salvation is the promised result of believing.
"But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe." - Mark 5:36 ASV
"But Jesus hearing it, answered him, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made whole." - Luke 8:50 ASV
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:20 ASV
Salvation comes when we believe. We don't save ourselves by our actions. God saves us when we believe. It isn't a work of any kind. It is trust. We open the door to the One who claims to be our friend and is the only One that has the legal right to save us because of His work on the cross.
"For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens." - Colossians 1:19-20 ASV
It says Jesus made peace with God the Father through the blood of His cross in the first chapter of Colossians.
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..." - Colossians 3:15a ASV
We can allow this peace to govern us. It can become an umpire that makes rulings.
'Do I have peace about what I'm planning to do?'
'Does this reflect the love and forgiveness in Christ?'
"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. 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. 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." - Colossians 3:12-17 ESV
For many fear is the unofficial umpire of their soul. If we have no peace there is a void. Fear fills that void and we do or don't do based on fear.
Only believe.
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." - Ephesians 4:30 ESV
Peace can become our oasis. Peace can be our umpire. The peace Jesus has and has won for us becomes ours and no one can take it away. Perfect love makes a ruling and casts out fear.
--
No comments:
Post a Comment