Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly 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. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians3:15-17
What does it look like when a person belongs to Christ and lives life for and with Him?
Paul suggests three life-traits:
1. Peacefulness: that a person who is near Christ creates peace and harmony wherever they go. They have peace within and they promote peace on the outside. What does it look like when the peace of Christ rules our hearts? It means that we push aside fear and insecurity and trust that Christ is with us in our circumstances. It means knowing that He has called us and will be with us. This will transmit peace into our environments.
2. Gratitude: Paul mentions gratitude and thankfulness three times in this section. When our lives are infused, permeated and immersed in a sense of gratitude for who we are, how we have been saved and the privilege of being alive and of serving, then others will see Christ in us. The gratitude Paul is talking about here is marked by singing. That we sing songs of praise as we live and work because for we realise that our lives are privilege and not a right.
3. A deep sense of being rooted and founded upon the principles of Scripture. Paul talks about the Word dwelling richly (abundantly, plentifully) in us. The principles of Scripture should define our choices and actions... Our lives should be thoughtfully based on the guidance and examples we find in Scripture.
Do a quick audit...
How peaceful, thankful and Word-based is your life?
Would those observing you agree?
What can you do to improve?
(Remember that peace comes FROM Christ, gratitude comes from seeing HIM clearly and it is HE is the embodiment of His Word. )
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
