Peace Starts with Christ

This verse begins with the word ‘let.’ To ‘let’ something happen is relatively passive, you just allow it to happen. So the peace of Christ is something that we allow to dwell in our hearts, not something we strive to achieve. It goes on to state that the peace of Christ should ‘rule in our hearts.’ If something rules over something else it means there’s a power dynamic at play. A king or queen has the power to rule over their kingdom. As such, allowing peace to rule in our hearts is a powerful thing.

I think sometimes I can make the mistake of believing that peace means the absence of all other negative emotions and difficult circumstances. However, the peace we have comes from the fact that Jesus decided to become one of us, choosing to be near and know all the suffering and pain we experience. He also chose to die for us, proving how much he loves us by paying the cost and suffering the consequences of us turning away from God; and then was raised to death- showing that he has power over death and so can always bring something good out of something horrible. 

The peace we have starts with Christ and what he’s done for us. Like all the fruit of the Spirit, they grow from their relationship with him.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for your life, death, and resurrection. Thank you that because of who you are we can have peace in the midst of chaos, Amen.