I remember getting into petty fights with my siblings when I was growing up. We would fight over who got to watch their favorite show on television. We would fight over who got to sit where in the car. We would fight over who got the last dinner roll! Honestly, it was ridiculous. Looking back, many of these conflicts could have been avoided if we had advocated for sibling peace instead of sibling rivalry. There is biblical grounding for the concept of peace. The apostle Paul states:
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”—Colossians 3:15
Take notice of Paul’s wording. We are called to be people of peace, as one body. Not people of division. Not people of conflict. We are to operate with a spirit of peace—"a peace that surpasses all human comprehension.” (Phil. 4:7). This is the peace that we, as the people of God, must promote. This peace is the reason I marched in the City of Richmond recently. While there are several narratives circulating about what these protests are about, I personally felt that I needed to see this with my own eyes. I went downtown and marched around several blocks with a couple thousand of my neighbors. After participating in the march, I can say with complete confidence that I personally saw a glimpse of what a peaceful society could look like.
I desperately want the peace of God to prevail in our society. Hopefully, all Christians would agree with this. However, if you read Colossians 3:15 again, you will see that this peace must rule in our hearts. In other words, it starts with us. We cannot be effective agents of peace until we allow the peace of God to rule first and foremost in our hearts. That is how we become peacemakers. Take note of what Jesus had to say about this special group of people:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”—Matthew 5:9
Making peace does not mean silencing the needs of those hurting in our communities. Making peace means sharing the love of Christ with all, whether you agree with them or not. Remember, this is the peace that should rule our hearts. As you connect to God and the community around you over the next week, consider taking these action steps:
- Pray for peace in your own life
- Pray for peace for others
- Promote peace in your communities
Brothers and sisters...may the peace of Christ rule in your heart.
Blessings,
David Moore