Colossians 3:14-16 English Standard Version

¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

This week I lost the peace of God. Things were stacking up against me and I became overwhelmed. I turned to my trusted counselors who assured me that Christ was still on the throne and in charge of my life. Each had positive comments and collectively I began to trust again.

These verses speak directly into those impact moments when things around us begin to take position to block the peace of God. The first step is to stop and drop everything as soon as we feel that loss of peace. What exactly happens to us when we lose peace? Our view of the problem takes first place and the solution is driven to the back of our minds.

In some situations we hate what is happening more than we love Christ. That sounds impossible but it is a momentary focus, a distraction, and living in this world it is easy to feel the danger instantly and perhaps for good reason. I do not fear dying because I know where I am going. I just do not want to die in agonizing pain. That is not uncommon, it is human.

I don’t know how many times I have said “I hate being human.” It is not that I hate my life, I just don’t like the feelings that can come with living this life. We worry about things beyond our control so we pray. We want things to change, so we pray.

If we allow Christ to rule from the throne of our hearts, then peace will come to us.

James 3:13 English Standard Version

Wisdom from Above

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Having just completing a study plan of strengthening faith, I concluded with a comment that the lost can see wisdom where they cannot see our faith.

Opening my bible app this verse was the verse of the day. James is famous for comment on faith and works but here he makes the connection between conduct and wisdom. Having just made my comment in the lesson plan this verse feels like confirmation that my comment has some validity.

Since all things work together for good according to Romans 8:28 there is this togetherness of faith, works, wisdom, will and need that seems to fit into many of the scenarios we encounter in this life in Christ. Need is mentioned because human needs always seem to be a contact point for reaching the lost.

Need abounds around us to the point that it can overwhelm us. How do we know that God is calling us to meet a need? Faith identifies God’s will in the effort and wisdom teaches us how to approach the situation best to glorify God and not make it all about us.

Wise faith allows others to identify God at work in us. It is best that we do not boast.

2 Timothy 3:2 King James Version (KJV) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Boasting is listed with some of the more undesirable traits in mankind.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:24 to boast of others in the things they do for God, recognizing God at work in them, not ourselves.

Nevertheless the flesh does love to think, “Look at what I have done.” Let that be a warning if those feelings emerge, the flesh wants credit.

Jeremiah 13:16 English Standard Version (ESV) Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.