September 28, 2003 Communion Dedication - Baldwin Christian Church

Colossians 3:15

So far, this chapter has taught us to set our minds on Jesus risen and glorified, to put off the old ways of the flesh like dirty laundry, and put on the clothes of the new person in Jesus. The last layer of spiritual clothing we put on, the first one the world around us sees, is love, and to everyone in our sphere of influence, this "spiritual overcoat" is how they identify us with Jesus. It's the service uniform we've been called to wear, and He's ordered us to love one another as He loves us. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Now, the enemy loves to poke holes in your overcoat of love. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), so he would love nothing better than for the whole world to see us take off the garments of the new man. The battleground is inside your will, the center of your decision-making power, so that's where he concentrates his attack..

In verse 15, the word "rule" comes from the Greek word "brabeuo" (brab-yoo'-o), and it's a term used in the context of officiating and awarding a prize to the winner in a sporting event. The only other time this word is used in the Bible is also in this book; chapter 2, verse 18, and in that context it becomes clear that we can be deceived into stealing, killing, or destroying our own prize. Therefore, we have the present tense imperative command: "let the peace of God rule in your hearts." Right now, today, tomorrow, when someone says something that would steal your joy, everyday, whenever you see something that would rob your peace, let it be the peace of God that decides the reaction of your heart. Let the peace of God, the peace that passes all understanding (Phl 4:7), be the peace that rules and pronounces the winner in the contest for your heart.

Jhn 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

As we go through this day and this week trying to remain in communion with our Lord Jesus and each other, let us be aware of what affects our will, our decision-making. As Proverbs 12:20 tells us, Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. Would you allow the joy and peace Jesus gives you to be stolen by the actions of others? Sometimes the deceit trying to steal our peace comes from within. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Listening to our own hearts can also be deceiving, so where do we find the truth, the peace of God, that it may rule in our hearts? We find it in His love letter to us.