Let The Peace Of Christ Rule Your Hearts, Since As One Body You Were Called To Peace
Love Is The Bond Of Perfection
COLOSSIANS 3:14-15
“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Colossians 3:14-15 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/col.3.14-15.nkjv
Paul gives us a strategy to help us live our daily lives that imitates Christ peaceful forgiving attitude, being merciful, kind, with humility, meekness, and longsuffering, bearing one another, and then binding all these virtues together with love (v12-17).
As we cloth ourselves with these virtues, the last garment to put on is love, which holds all the others together, and is the bond of perfection.
To love is God’s first two and great commandments, on which all of the Law and the Prophets stand ( MATHEW 22:37-40; MARK 12:29-31).
My brethren “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
I Corinthians 13:1-7 NKJV
Love is by far more than a feeling or an emotion, it is an action of care toward others without expectation of any kind of payment in return.
Jesus said, “love your neighbor as yourself,” in other words, care for your neighbor as you do yourself; make others needs as important as your own.
We believers must live in peace, not to say that all our differences and opinions will suddenly be eliminated, but we are required to respect one another and work together peacefully despite our differences.
At times, we will not agree, but rather than get angry or argumentative, we must learn to respectfully agree to disagree.
Paul tells us to allow the peace of God rule our hearts-to be umpire or referee in our heart, the very centre of where our emotions, feelings, and desires clash; the place where we harbour fear and hope, trust and distrust, jealousy and love.
Paul explains that we must choose between these conflicting elements of life by using the rule of peace.
The devil came to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (JOHN 20:10); he will always try to steal your peace and open a door into your heart that fear and rage may enter and control your thoughts, feelings, and decisions.
He comes to bring torment and failures in our relationships, careers, and every aspect of life.
But Jesus came that you may have life and that you may have it more abundantly (JOHN 10:10).
He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27 NKJV
Fear and anxiety are much the same; it brings confusion, discontent, and often rage.
Furthermore, it steals the very peace Christ has given us.
Anxiety/ depression sets in and our bodies look for ways to suppress the sadness, such as pills, alcohol and other addictive methods by default.
We find ourselves doing what we know is wrong, and failing to do do what we ought. Our lives become miserable and open doors to unclean spirits and demons, such as the spirit of fear, depression, and suicide.
But their is a solution, Paul said, who faced all the same trials and challenges said, who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ (Romans 7:13-25).
My brethren we have authority over all these unclean spirits and demons, and all demonic powers that so easily take us captive
( LUKE 10:17).
Maybe you are struggling with anxiety/ depression, or suicidal thoughts, or having bad dreams or find it difficult to sleep; maybe you are struggling to keep your God-given peace.
Paul told us, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
II Timothy 1:6-7 NKJV
Don’t allow the devil and his evil spirits to hold you any longer; ask the elders of your church to drive them out and be free from the torment; free, not to continue in sin, but to live for Christ.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
James 4:7-10 NKJV
Having restored your spirit of love, power, and mind, keep those devil’s out by staying close to Jesus and being obedient to Him; following the leading of the Spirit rather than the lust of the flesh (GALATIANS 5:16-26).
Furthermore, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV
God gives us all the steps to live in peace as individual parts of one body in unity, Christ being the head to achieve great successes within the ministry (EPHESIANS 4:11-16), being patient and kind to one another. “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
I Peter 4:8-11 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
