SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/10/2017 10:01 PM
My Worship Time Focus: The Peace of
Christ
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Colossians
3:15
Message of the verses: “15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
The following quote is from my
Online Greek/Hebrew dictionary for the word “peace” (Eirene).” “1) a state of
national tranquillity
1a) exemption
from the rage and havoc of war
2) peace between individuals,
i.e. harmony, concord
3) security, safety, prosperity,
felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
4) of the
Messiah’s peace
4a) the way that
leads to peace (salvation)
5) of
Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through
Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of
whatsoever sort that is
6) the blessed state of
devout and upright men after death”
Highlighted areas best describe how this word is used
here long with the underlined section (4).
Believers are at peace with God once they become believers at their
salvation as the war between God and them was satisfied at the cross of Christ
and once they become a believer the receive God’s peace as 4a speaks of.
We now move onto the word rule (brabeuo) also from the Online Greek/English Dictionary: “1) to be an umpire; 2) to decide, determine; 3) to direct, control, rule”
It is interesting that this is the only time that this
word is used in the New Testament however MacArthur writes that a compound form
appears in Colossians 2:18 “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by
delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on
visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,” As seen in
our definitions this word was used to describe the activity of an umpire as he
decided the outcome of an athletic contest.
MacArthur writes “The peace of Christ guides believers in making
decisions. When faced with a choice, the
believer should consider two factors.
First, is it the consistent with the fact that he and Christ are now at
peace and thus on the same side? Does it
perpetuate (effect) the oneness with the Lord that is the believer’s
possession?” “Second, will it leave him
with a deep and abiding peace in his heart?
These two factors are also the two greatest deterrents to sin in the
believer’s life. Sin offends Christ,
with whom he is at peace, and thereby shatters the rest and security in his
heart.”
As we look at the rest of the verse “to which indeed you
were called in one body; and be thankful.” We must understand that those believing
individuals who have peace with Christ will live in their own hearts in unity
and harmony with each other. Once this
is taking place then we can be thankful and thankfulness is a constant theme in
Colossians as we look at (1:d, 12; 2:7; 3:15, 16, 17; 4:2.
Ephesians chapter six talks
about the spiritual armor and in that armor is the “shoes of the gospel of
peace.” I have always thought that
perhaps one shoe represents the peace of God, and the other Peace with God and
you can’t have the peace of God without having Peace with God.
5/10/2017 10:32 PM
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