aBible.com     

Colossians 3:15 - Let the Peace of God Rule in Your Hearts.

Colossians 3:15 (NIV) Let the peace of 
Christ rule in your hearts...  

Colossians 3:15 (NLT) And let the peace that 
comes from Christ rule in your hearts...  

WORD STUDY

The word 'rule' comes from the language of 
athletics: Paul tells us to let Christ's peace be 
umpire or referee in our hearts. Our hearts are the 
center of conflict because there our feelings and 
desires clash - our fears and hopes, distrust and 
trust, jealousy and love. How can we deal with 
these constant conflicts and live as God wants? 
Paul explains that we must decide between 
conflicting elements by using the rule of peace - which 
choice will promote peace in our souls and in our 
churches. [Life Application SB] 

INTRODUCTION

Christians should live in peace. To live in 
peace does not mean that suddenly all differences 
in opinion are eliminated, but it does require 
that loving Christians work together despite 
their differences. Such love is not a feeling, but 
a decision to meet others' needs (see 1 Cor. 
13). To live in love leads to peace between 
individuals and among the members of the body of 
believers. Do problems in your relationships with other 
Christians cause open conflicts or mutual silence? 
Consider what you can do to heal those relationships 
with love.  [Life Application SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Science has confirmed what the Bible 
taught centuries ago: There is a close relationship 
between our minds and bodies. Proverbs puts it this 
way: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a 
crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Prov. 17:22 
NIV). 
   But there is also a close relationship 
between our mental and physical health and the 
health of our spiritual lives. Guilt, fear, 
jealousy, bitterness, futility, escapism - these and a 
host of other problems are spiritual ills, 
brought about by the disease of sin. Like poison, 
they can sicken us in mind and body. 
   But when Christ comes into our lives, He 
removes our guilt and takes away our fears. He gives 
us love for others and a new purpose in life. 
His joy and peace neutralize sin's poison - and 
that promotes emotional and physical health. 
   Does that mean our emotional and physical 
problems will vanish? Not necessarily. But like a 
spring of pure water, God's peace in our hearts 
brings cleansing and refreshment to our minds and 
bodies. [Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham] 

COMMENTARY

   When you walk in the new nature and wear 
the new clothes of the Kingdom, you find an 
inner shalom that you were designed to carry. That 
shalom - the peace, wholeness, fullness, and 
rightness of life as it was meant to be - is a 
satisfying place. Its more than the absence of conflict 
and tension. Its restoration of the true human 
nature given in Eden and re-created through Jesus. 
It's a gift of life from the Prince of Shalom 
Himself. 
   Many Christians lose that peace and 
fullness when they begin applying the Kingdom ways to 
everyone around them and make righteous demands on 
people who have only the old nature to draw from or 
are in a different place in their discipleship 
journey. Scripture tells us to walk in the new nature 
and wear the new Kingdom clothes, but it never 
tells us to decide the path for others and dress 
them the way we see fit. Yes, there are common 
expressions of Christ that all should embrace, and we 
are free to teach them. But the Kingdom is not a 
place of finger-pointing. It is always calling us 
to look on our old nature with judgment but 
never to be judgmental toward others. When we take 
verses meant for us and apply them to others - 
often out of season for their lives - we lose 
whatever peace we had gained. We become like the 
righteous scribes and Pharisees who, deep inside, 
weren't very righteous at all. 
   Apply the Word to yourself. Even teach it 
to others. Explore it with those around you, 
and exhort and encourage one another with its 
hope and calling. But as one who has received an 
extraordinary amount of mercy, never look unmercifully at 
another. And certainly never judge those in the old 
nature by the standards of the new. These are not 
attitudes that make for peace. 
   No, peace comes from your inner communion 
with Christ and will manifest with the same mercy 
and love that He expressed to people who were 
really immature and may have made very bad 
decisions. Let love and mercy rule in your heart, and 
peace - shalom in its fullness - will flourish. 
[The One Year Heaven On Earth Devotional by Chris 
Tiegreen] 

ILLUSTRATION 

   My thirteen-year-old son, Pierce, plays 
baseball (among other sports), and now this 
nonathlete, writer mom is enriching her writing with 
lots of handy sports metaphors. In baseball, the 
umpire is in charge. Hes the all-powerful 
referee. He starts and ends the game, enforces the 
rules, etc. Boy, talk about effective imagery!  
   Colossians 3:15 is crystal clear and so 
practical, particularly in the Amplified Bible. Let 
Christs peace be the controlling factor in our 
decision-making. Its a great feeling to make decisions 
with that deep sense of supernatural serenity. 
Yet sometimes prayerful, peace-filled decisions 
lead us to unexpected places that seem anything 
but peaceful. Think of Moses, Jonah, the virgin 
Mary, or just anybody who answered Gods call, 
feeling peaceful or not. I have made some decisions 
in life, full of peace, that went on to be 
extraordinarily challenging, but rich with spiritual fruit 
for me and for others.  
   In Little League, youll sometimes have 
an umpire who makes downright bad calls; calls 
that everyone agrees are wrong. With Christ as 
our utterly perfect Umpire, we can rest in 
perfect peace, whether our fickle feelings say 
peace or not. Because of Jesus, we have the 
assurance of an eternal resolution to every bad call 
in eternity, and access to the transcendent 
serenity this side of heaven. Isabella Yosuico  
   Faith Step: How can peace be the umpire 
of a situation youre facing today? Ask Jesus 
to help give you His peace that surpasses 
understanding (Philippians 4:7). [Mornings With Jesus 2020 
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

   I speak to you from the depths of 
eternity. Before the world was formed, I AM! You hear 
Me in the depths of your being, where I have 
taken up residence. I am Christ in you, the hope 
of Glory. I, your Lord and Savior, am alive 
within you. Learn to tune in to My living Presence 
by seeking Me in silence. 
   As you celebrate the wonder of My birth 
in Bethlehem, celebrate also your rebirth into 
eternal life. This everlasting gift was the sole 
purpose of My entering your sin-stained world. 
Receive My gift with awe and humility. Take time to 
explore the vast dimensions of My Love. Allow 
thankfulness to flow freely from your heart in response 
to My glorious gift. Let My Peace rule in your 
heart and be thankful. (Psa. 90:2; Col. 1:27; 
3:15) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

Colossians 3:15a - Living the Peace of 
Christ. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2013/20130228-1921.html 

Philippians 4:6-7 - Peace Beyond 
Understanding. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190511-1519.html 

Isaiah 26:3 - Peace That Surpasses All 
Understanding. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200303-1410.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE