Ruling Peace

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
RULING PEACE
Col 3:15
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
NIV
Let the joining of Christ rule in my heart, that is what the Greek implies here, let the peace, the joining with Christ rule in my heart. Christ is peace, and at times, because of the many situations I find come my way which could cause anything but peace, I need to remember I am joined with him. Worry is not peace, nor is being anxious or upset over something or someone. Oh sure, I can be concerned, and in fact I should bring my concerns to the throne of God, seeking his assurance, his provision, his guidance. If I do this, even concerns cannot get in the way of the peace of Christ ruling in my heart. The question is of course do I really want his peace to rule, or do I want to rule my own heart? Although I have been called to this joining with Christ, I have been called to peace, I still struggle with who is ruling in my heart. Can I still have some of my own desires? Can I still want to accomplish things for my own self worth? Can I still enjoy my hobbies when I want to? Can I desire to have more things or better things? What does it mean to rule? To govern, to prevail would be how the Greek word is used here and that implies I might have a problem if I do not let Christ govern or prevail in the matters of my inner being, my thoughts and feelings. Now, if I am letting, allowing, submitting to his governing in my thoughts and feelings, this might well be in regards to how I think and react toward the other members of this one body and not so much as to some of my own desires. Or could it be both? Oh sure my desires are not those of wicked and cruel things. True, my desires are not really bad or ugly. I do know Christ and am always aware of his presence in my life. So how could I desire evil? I could not, but the things I want to do, want to have, even though they are not bad things, are still things that I have to make sure Christ is directing, or ruling my thoughts and feelings towards or is at least alright with my leanings. I do know that I am extremely thankful I have Christ in my life, for before he was, I was not in any remote way a person with peace. I also know that if it were not for Christ ruling in my life, I would already be dead and dead in sin, which I cannot even fathom what fate awaited me. I cannot bear to even think of that fate, that end which awaits those who have not accepted Christ’s salvation and his rule. In this context I have peace; I have contentment and joy and am filled with thankfulness.