Colossians 3:15

After talking about the perfect bond called love, Paul is writing about the peace of Christ being in control in our hearts as the heritage of Christians.

He is speaking of peace in our hearts as the choice we make. Note that he is not saying everybody must like you, support you, or that everything around you must be perfect.

He is not talking about earthly riches as components of your peace but rather the peace centered on and based on Christ.

When Jesus in the book of John said that he was leaving peace with the disciples, he added that in the world there would be trouble and suffering, but that they should take heart because he has conquered the world. Here is a heart-based peace, where the heart is not distressed, and there is courage in the face of trouble and distress.

At this time, Jesus was leaving the world, and he did not promise a trouble-free or suffering-free life to maintain the disciples' devotion. So beware of supposed truth-peddlers who make more or different promises than Jesus.

• John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.

• John 16:33: I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage – I have conquered the world.

An important word in the focus verse is “control.” Paul is describing the peace of Christ as an entity that would take control of your heart. You letting go of the control and letting the peace of God be in control.

It’s like Christ has his peace waiting in the wings, available to you, and Paul is saying let that peace in, let it be in control in your heart. Let that peace take control.

And we know that anxiety is contrary to peace. Maybe anxiety is when you think you should be in control.

Jesus said in John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

Following that, he mentioned what he said they should believe: his return so we would be with him forever. They should rest in that and not in anything else (John 14:1-3).

Jesus addressed the issue of worry, which is contrary to peace in the heart. In Matthew 6:27, he asked, "Which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?" Instead, we should think that our heavenly father will provide what we need and that the one who provides for the birds of the air will also provide for us.

• This is Christianity translating into peace in your heart.

• This is Christianity, where the anchor of the soul is Christ.

• This is the real-life outcome of all that Paul had been saying about you being in Christ and Christ being in you.

• This is the impact of your being delivered from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son (Colossians 1:13).

And all because

• Christianity is not just something that happens to you but also in you.

• Christianity unleashes a new you that now has access to the peace of Christ.

Paul is laying out a choice: we have the option to let the peace of God reign in our hearts or not. He is saying that the peace of Christ is available as a controlling factor in your heart.

That means it is a choice that you make, and you can only make that choice:

• If you are seeking the things above where Christ is seated (Colossians 3:1),

• If your priority and pursuit are as Jesus described it: the pursuit of God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

These clearly are prerequisites for the peace of God being in control of your heart.

But Paul is hinting at something else here because it is clear that he is still harping on relationships among believers as the overall theme of this passage. He is saying that connection among believers is an outflow of peace within.

James argues from the opposite side of that point.

“Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?” he asked.

As far as James was concerned, the conflict among the believers is merely a reflection of inward conflict.

While Paul is making a positive argument for peace, saying that is what God wants, James is making a negative argument for peace, saying not having peace is the basis for conflict. And instead of complaining about not having peace around, focus on having it within.

James is saying that peace is not primarily because of something occurring on the outside but rather discontent and agitations in the inside that flows to the outside.

The point to all these is that when we see conflict, and we are quick to want to analyze the situation or look for who to blame, we may be approaching interpersonal peacebuilding the wrong way, thinking it is about issues rather that the inward, lack of seeking things above, on our part.

Paul mentioned our calling as one body into this peace. Have you ever thought of peace as your calling and not conflict?

Paul, in another place, said it this way: If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people (Romans 12:18).

Basically, you should not be a conflict generator, not someone who is always trying to overturn the cart of peace, not an agitator.

There is a commitment to peace that should mark you. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9).”

A Caveat (sort of)

But do not seek peace on just any term, that means you have sold your soul. What we are talking about here is Christ-elevating peace.

The apostles did not choose the path of peace, if that is what you want to call it, with the religious leaders in Israel, and stopped preaching, when they were asked to in the book of Acts.

They would not sacrifice their relationship with God to yield to the fear of man. They want to have a false peace around when they have a lack of peace with God on the inside from not doing his will.

Nevertheless, in those contexts, they still chose peace. They were beaten, but they did not try to create a counter-insurgency or an agitation group.

The call is not peace for peace’s sake, which may actually be masking your own fear for your life and love of the world (1 John 2:15-17), and desire for acceptance by the world, or to gain something that is passing.

Paul said we should be thankful in the focus verse. If you are thinking about a practice that you should have that would give you a fast track to peace in your heart, there you have it: thankfulness. Prioritize thankfulness.

Paul makes a similar link between peace and thanksgiving in the book of Philippians (4:6-7).

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

1. Do not be anxious about anything (anxiety is a passive choice [default reaction]).

2. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell God your requests (prayer and thanksgiving should be your active choice).

3. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (this is the result and not necessarily an immediate change in the situation).

Conclusion

Peace is your calling, but it seems the way to get there is by casting your care upon God and thanksgiving. This means not looking at men as your solution and, therefore, not coming in conflict with them unnecessarily.