Having the Peace of Christ

set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth(Colossians 3:2)

Put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him (Colossians 3:10)

To understand the peace of Christ, we must go back to the beginning of the chapter. Brethren had disputes about food, drinks, and feast days, which Paul points out were "shadows of things to come," but the actual fulfillment of those things is in Christ (Colossians 2:16-17). So, beginning in chapter three, Paul opens up about the spiritual life that one has in Christ. He tells the brethren not to be so carnally minded, "set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). 

He then moves into the true purpose and the key to understanding Christ's true peace. In verse five, he begins to list things that wage war against the spirit, which ultimately never bring peace but sadness, misery, disappointment, turmoil, sin, and spiritual death. Fornication, uncleanness, passions, evil desire, and covetousness kill the spirit through war. The antithesis of peace is war. Therefore, to have the peace of Christ, who never fell victim to any of these things, one must put these things that war against the soul to death. But if that was not enough, he gives another list in verses eight and nine. Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and lying kill the spirit. 

Now, one may object and say, "Well, Christ never committed such carnal things, yet He did not live peaceably with all men; I mean, He was killed by His enemies." That is where we find the breakdown and misapplication of what the peace of Christ is. Christ indeed had enemies, but despite having them, He did allow Himself to act as humanity did and still does. He could live His life with the same peace He offers His followers. 

No one can have the peace of Christ unless they have, first, been raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1), and second, "put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Colossians 3:10). Then, we see Paul saying it doesn't matter if you are "Jew or Gentile, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free," we all struggle with these things because we are human. And the only way to have true peace is to find true identity in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:11). And if we are in Christ, then we must forgive one another and love one another, which is the "bond of perfection" (Colossians 3:13-14). This brings us to Colossians 3:15, when we can stop acting like humans with carnal minds; then we can become followers of Christ, people who walk by the Spirit, thus, bringing the peace of Christ to all our lives.

On These Two Commandments Hang All the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus gives two critical principles in Matthew 22:36-40: to love God with all your being and to love your fellow man as yourself. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

First, let us consider the contrast between the two ideas. Loving God should be the central theme in our lives each day. When one considers what God has done, not only in one's life but throughout creation and human history, he should be able to understand the idea more thoroughly. 

The difference between loving God and our fellow man is tremendous; that is not to say that we should take loving our neighbors lightly. When one truly meditates upon who God is, then views Him next to man, we can see it is a different requirement. Let me explain; no one can ever justifiably indict God as one who betrays, hurts, or harms them. Attempts and accusations are made almost daily; nonetheless, they are unjustified. Giving all required should be easy when God is viewed as He should. He is a Being that only wants what is best for His creation, yet we shake our fists toward him. God is not guilty of malice, evil, or wrongdoing; He is holy, righteous, all-loving, forgiving, gracious, merciful, and patient. How could such a being not be deserving of one's absolute best? 

On the other hand, loving a being like my neighbor is entirely different. Humans are more than capable of causing harm and betraying others and often are guilty of such. In this area, Jesus calls us to be like the Father, for he calls us to be forgiving. It is not easy loving those who have betrayed us. It is never pleasant when we are required to pardon those who harm us. Why? Because these two ideas seem counter-productive. What does one get out of excusing another of their wrongdoing? "Nothing!" someone might say. One begins to reason and justify why one cannot forgive the other person, so every excuse is given, and forgiveness is never extended. But one fails to observe the principle in God's word. It starts with the proper attitude. 

The principle is easy to understand if one views others and he/her views themselves. Often, we use the phrase, “Take a walk in my shoes," and this saying is used to show the idea of trading places with another to see what you would do in the same situations. It is easy to look at another, only using your point of view and passing judgment. We judge others as unworthy of our help, time, or love. Jesus sought to change this infectious mindset because God always required humans to have compassion and love for one another. 

Think of a world where human beings sought to please God and love their neighbor as themselves. Crime would decline, people would be healthier, lifespans would be longer, and life would be more enjoyable. Christianity is designed to take the human race and make it the possible form it could be.

SOME PRINCIPLES FROM EXODUS 20:1-17

Exodus 20:1-17 describes the Ten Commandments, a set of moral and ethical principles that have endured as guiding values for many individuals. Two key ideas or principles that stand out from this passage and can make a difference in how we live our lives:

1. The importance of honoring one's relationships with God and mankind.

The first several commandments focus on recognizing and respecting one's relationship with God, including acknowledging God as the one true deity by avoiding idolatrous practices, blasphemy, and Sabbath-breaking. The last six commandments focus on honoring one's relationship with others, including honoring parents, not murdering, committing adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, or coveting. These commandments serve as a reminder of the importance of cultivating healthy relationships with God and man and respecting the boundaries and dignity of all individuals. 

2. The importance of personal responsibility.

In some of the earlier commandments, such as the prohibition against idolatry and blasphemy, the focus is on individual responsibility and agency in one's faith and relationship with God. Similarly, the commandment against coveting emphasizes personal responsibility for one's desires and actions. The commandments against stealing, murdering, and bearing false witness all emphasize the personal responsibility involved in honoring and respecting the lives, property, and reputations of others. These commandments remind us that one's choices and actions significantly impact oneself and others, and we must always strive to act with integrity, honesty, and responsibility. 

These two principles remind us of the importance of cultivating healthy relationships with others, respecting the boundaries and dignity of all people, and demonstrating personal responsibility for one's choices and actions. By practicing these values, one can live a more meaningful and ethical life that honors self, others, and God.

A Wise Young Man?

For many reasons, Solomon’s character development has to be one of my favorites in the Bible. When his father was on his deathbed, David provided some parting advice to his son, Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:11-13). David tells him to seek the LORD for wisdom and guidance. We see the fulfillment of this by Solomon in 1 Kings 3:5-15. Solomon recognized his insufficiencies as the new leader of God’s people. He prays an unselfish prayer, and what is interesting is that he could have asked God for anything, yet he asked God for wisdom, not for himself, but for the people. God grants Solomon’s petition, for it pleased the LORD. But woe to the man with much responsibility!

One could almost see the young, naive man, Solomon, grow into an old sage led by the mind of God. The difficulty for Solomon was continual dependence upon God. It is easy to call upon God and have a request granted, then forget the granter. Today, human beings run the same risk. Solomon was humble when looking to God in his youth, but his humility faded over the years. I am curious to know how much his many relationships with various women played a part in turning his back on the one true God. But it is hard for one to deny some influence on their part. 

I believe Solomon reconciled his relationship with God toward the end of his life. The book of Ecclesiastes is a good indication of that belief. A study of Solomon’s life is one that is much needed in our world today. May we always keep our hearts focused on the one who has provided so much in our lives, the Almighty God.