Recently I discovered a medical journal entitled CHEST. It is a journal described as the “Official Publication of the American College of Chest Physicians.”
The journal contains an article entitled, “Exploratory Surgery of the Heart” An abstract of the article asserts:
“Exploratory surgery of the heart is logical, simple, and when performed along the lines indicated, a relatively safe procedure. In most cases, fortunately, it not only establishes the anatomical diagnosis but permits the prompt carrying out of corrective operative measures.”
You might say in Colossians 3:15-17 the Apostle Paul is writing about “Exploratory Surgery of the Heart.” And just like the article in the Chest journal, Paul would say that such exploratory surgery is a “safe procedure” and that, in most cases, it helps to diagnose, but also “permits the prompt carrying out of corrective operative measures.”
Let’s explore our spiritual hearts today. As we study the passage, let’s do some exploratory heart surgery, taking a look inside, seeing what we discover; seeing whether there may be something that needs correction.
If you are a Christian, then God has given you a new heart because He has given you a new self and you are a new creation: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Christians with new hearts will follow Paul’s teachings in Colossians 3:15-17 where we note three actions in these three verses:
We Learn to end Strife (verse 15)
We Love the Scriptures (verse 16)
We Live for the Savior (verse 17)
Today, we’ll look at the first action:
We Learn to end Strife
Christians will always endeavor to put an end to any division arising in the church. We work for peace in the fellowship. This is the meaning of verse 15:
And let the peace of God [or Christ] rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (verse 15)
Most of the translations have “the peace of Christ,” which is probably better. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. That is, look inside your heart. Do some exploratory heart surgery. Do you see, “the peace of Christ?”
Note also the emphasis in verse 15 on “one body,” a reminder of the need for unity in the fellowship of God; unity in the church.
When peace rules in the hearts of Christ’s followers, peace will rule within the church fellowship. Peace with God brings peace with one another.
Remember that verse 15 follows immediately on the heels of verses 14 and preceding. Paul has just been writing about the new self and how the new self behaves; how the new self “puts on” spiritual clothing that “matches” his or her identity as God’s children.
Recall from our last post that Christians must forgive one another. Paul stresses this mandate by spelling it out for us in verse 13: “If anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
There is no excuse for a Christian’s not forgiving another brother or sister.
There is also no excuse for a Christian’s not forgiving a husband or wife.
Let the peace of Christ “rule” in your hearts. The word, “rule” is an athletic term and means “to arbitrate.” It is found only here in the New Testament and seems to convey the idea of something like our modern umpire, or referee.
An umpire or a referee has to “make calls.” He calls strikes or balls, or he makes a decision about whether a play was “out of bounds.”
One of the reasons Christians can conquer fear or anxiety is because of the peace of Christ that rules in their hearts. When Christians can allow peace to be the referee, or the umpire who “calls out” the stuff that shouldn’t be there, they can truly know peace.
We must consistently “call out” the things that don’t belong in our hearts by allowing the presence of peace—the peace of Christ—to dwell within us.
Peace takes discipline. It doesn’t “just happen.” We must be vigilant and consistently look for things that shouldn’t be in our hearts and “call them out.”
Unwelcome guests like bitterness, lust, and unforgiveness may creep into our hearts. When this happens, we must be like an umpire and immediately “call them out.” Put off the old self and put on the new by letting the peace of Christ rule in your heart.
And remember that Paul is writing primarily about peace in the body of Christ, about getting along with fellow brothers and sisters in the congregation.
Christians who have been reconciled to God, who have peace with Him through Christ, should naturally manifest peace with one another. Strife is the inevitable result when men are out of touch with Him who is the one Source of true peace; but there is no reason why those who have accepted the peace which Christ established by His death on the cross should have any other than peaceful relations among themselves.
FF BrucE, The Epistle to the Colossians
Peace with God results in peace with one another. So one reason why there may be strife between two church members, may well be because one of them—or both of them—may not have peace with God. That is, they may not actually be saved.
I think this may be why Paul adds the last three words in verse 15: “and be thankful.”
Gratitude is found in the hearts of those who have been given new hearts. Christians are forever grateful to God for their new hearts and it causes them to be thankful, and to go on being thankful.
When we return to our study in Colossians, we’ll look at the next two actions from verses 16 and 17. For now…
What About You?
- Can you honestly say that “the peace of Christ” rules in your heart?
- How can you intentionally work for unity in your church family–and help others do the same?
- Is there someone you are not forgiving? What will you do about that this week?
Wordpress Comments: