LET GOD’S PEACE REIGN AND BE THANKFUL

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:15-17 (BSB)

God is sovereign—is completely in charge—and when we surrender our all to Him, we will have the peace and confidence to live in harmonious community with our brothers and sisters in Christ. There will be peace in the “familyship” as we each have the peace of submission and obedience ruling in our individual hearts and lives. The word of God is our instruction manual—our life-coach—the source of continuity in living for Jesus. As we fully immerse ourselves, soaking in the Scripture, we will not only have peace ourselves but will be able to encourage others to live and dwell in peace by abiding in the word. As the word begins to seep into and overflow our being, the Lord will infuse us with the power to accomplish all He has called us to do in the grace of and to the glory of God. We need to be steeped in the peace of God. His peace is not a temporary, fragile, worldly peace. It is permanent because He is faithful to His promise, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid” (John 14:27). God’s shalom (peace) means that we have wholeness with nothing missing and nothing broken. God’s peace should make us into an overflowing reservoir of gratitude and thanksgiving. Although we do not have to earn salvation by good deeds, God has saved us to be “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life” (Ephesians 2:10). Therefore, Paul admonishes the Colossians (and us) to do whatever we do “in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Do you experience God’s peace in your life? Do you go about your work in the name of Jesus and thanking God? Our focus must not be just on the end result of salvation, which is eternity in paradise, but we must have joy in the journey as we experience peace and gratitude. God’s peace reigns in our lives and enables us to be thankful as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. We grow through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers.

Father, may our hearts burst out in songs of praise and thanksgiving as we realize the peace that passes all understanding has been bountifully accredited to our accounts because Jesus paid the price of our sin on the cross and was raised from the dead. Thank You, Lord, that Your peace permeates our lives in such a way that we need not live in fear and can share peace with others. Help us to continue to trust in Your peace as we grow in our relationship with Jesus.