And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
The verse calls for the peace of God to govern the inner life continually, for believers to live this out as those called together in one body, and for them to remain thankful. To rule means not a brief visit but a welcomed, abiding control of the heart that is given room to dwell and remain. That peace is the peace of Christ, freely given by God where love reigns, which cannot be bought or commanded by human ability. Being called in one body means those of varied traits brought together must harmonize in one mind and judgment, allowing no division and striving for the oneness Christ shares with the Father. It is received by choosing to open the heart to Christ, surrendering self and worldly ambition, and trusting God's love and promises in obedience, and it is kept by prayer, letting the word dwell richly, putting away suspicion and faultfinding, and holding firm in trial with thankfulness expressed in praise and cheerful daily life.
Wording and Context
The command is that the peace of God govern the heart, that believers live this out as those called together in one body, and that they be thankful. That governing belongs to life together in the one body to which they have been called, joining peace with thankfulness as part of a harmonious, Christlike life. To rule means to govern and control the inner life continually, not to remain only as a transient guest, and heard and obeyed it converts the soul. The peace must be welcomed, let in and given a welcome place, given room and a dwelling place, allowed to enter, abide and remain and to govern. Letting it rule in this chosen way preserves influence for good, brings peace and joy beyond understanding, and restrains speech from words that fail to soften or improve character, so that a heart ruled by Jesus produces life-giving words and actions.
The peace of God is the peace of Christ, pervading the soul and ruling the heart. It is freely given by God as a gift that money cannot buy and that brilliant talent and intellect cannot command or secure, and it abides in the soul where love reigns. Its rule appears in the meekness and lowliness of Christ, which is the Christian's power, more precious than anything genius can create or wealth can buy, to be carried into daily life in the holy principles of Christ's religion, for to fail in this is great loss. When the Spirit of Christ shapes character and conduct, thoughts, words and actions testify to new birth, influence blesses and builds others, and life gains a gracious radiance that makes even quiet lives without public preaching and with least self-display effective witnesses for righteousness. Parents make this real to children by living with that peace ruling within and with love shaping life.
The verse belongs with putting on compassion, mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, patience, forbearance, forgiveness even as Christ forgave, and above all love or charity as the bond of perfectness and completeness. It belongs with letting the word of God or of Christ dwell richly in wisdom, in teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with grace, and in doing all in word and deed in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanksgiving. This is the means by which God cleanses and uplifts His institutions to a high, holy standard, keeping Christians united with no provision for drawing apart, revealing Christ's character through love for one another as brethren. Striving to excel in practicing this known will and Word is the only lawful strife, and practicing it is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. It condemns a cold, critical, sarcastic spirit that drives out the love of Jesus, and requires those leading God's work to expel that spirit, be filled with the spirit of Jesus, continue in prayer with thanksgiving, speak always with grace, and so become vessels unto honor and workmen who need not be ashamed.
The verse describes those risen with Christ, dead to the old sinful life and to the world by baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pledged to serve God, to resist temptation by heaven-given power and grace, and to represent the resurrection of Christ in newness of life. Their life is hid with Christ in God as the new man renewed after the image of Him that created him, pledged to practice the virtues of the Saviour's character and to represent the life of Christ. It calls those risen with Christ to seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and to set affection on things above, not on things on the earth, by the transforming power of the grace of Christ affecting heart and character. It belongs to putting off fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and lying, and to putting away sin and living out the fruits of righteousness while keeping baptismal vows, with intellectual and divine enlightenment under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit pledged in baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. The ruling peace in that new life guards weak points of character with rigor, maintains self-control and purity, and keeps out seducing and evil spirits so that no one need walk into Satan's trap for the unwary, and it is kept by relying on the pledged power and grace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, by praying in faith and watching unto prayer, and by teaching, singing and doing all in word and deed in the name of Jesus with grace and thanksgiving in the heart.
The passage is teaching on faith, part of Colossians 3:10-16 spoken to give encouragement to ministers and to believers gathered together. It teaches those following Christ forward and upward in the pathway of light, as daily learners in the school of Christ who have no wisdom to guide themselves aright and who take no backward steps, to allow God's peace to govern their hearts as people called in one body and to be thankful, as a lesson from the great Teacher to be practiced and imparted to others. It gives part of the Bible standard believers must reach by exercising living faith in the promises of God, so that in reaching it they may claim the precious promises of Jehovah.
Unity in One Body
Being called in one body means believers of varied traits and character brought together in church life must harmonize and cherish kind thoughts and feelings for one another. They are to be of one mind and one judgment, to speak the same things, to allow no division, and to make no provision for drawing apart from each other. They are to strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind, doing nothing through strife or vainglory but in lowliness esteeming others better. No one is excused from this practical work, and each is to examine the heart closely, obtain an individual experience through constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer, and remain thankful. This oneness is lived by serving in all lowliness of mind with a humble and contrite spirit, walking humbly, loving the brethren and linking and uniting with them rather than choosing only one's own society and separating from any who will not accept one's own ideas and plans, laying aside self-sufficiency and love of self, and practicing the truth in word, spirit, and action.
When Christ takes possession of the affections, selfish ambition and the desire for supremacy die and give way to sympathy, tender compassion, unselfish care, and harmony among fellow believers. Choosing only one's own society and separating over personal ideas and plans is laid aside with self-sufficiency and love of self, and in its place come lowliness, esteeming others better, and linking and uniting with the brethren. Selfish striving to be first and to master others is laid aside, so that workers walk worthy in lowliness and unity. Personal opinions and faults are thus prevented from disrupting the unity of the church.
Christ's peace in the heart brings peace with God and peace between fellow believers, and it is the opposite of discord, strife, envy, suspicion, hatred, rivalry, and friction. It lifts the heart above life's annoyances and trials, so that without it a person becomes unhappy and discontented, sees faults everywhere, and spreads discord. Where it rules, putting away sins and coming into harmony with God brings harmony with one another in one body. This unity leaves no room for rivalry or friction among fellow workers, for Christ and not any human leader directs them, and no one is to set himself up as the standard. The same governing peace makes peace in the family easier to establish.
This unity is kept by practicing the known will and Word, cultivating kindness, forbearance, and love, and putting on charity as the bond of perfectness. It is kept by forbearing one another and forgiving even as Christ forgave, with mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering. It is kept by laying aside selfish striving to be first and to master others, by respecting and working harmoniously with one another, and by ending contention in love and unity. It is kept by encouraging church members whom the Spirit calls to labor rather than hindering their work. It is kept by rejecting evil speaking, accusing, faultfinding, misrepresentation, suspicious jealousy, evil-surmising, unjust criticism, and uncharitable thoughts, closing the heart to them, learning silence, and thinking no evil.
Character Formed by Peace
Letting the peace of God rule in the heart is genuine fruit of righteousness proving living connection with Christ, and part of the character the elect, holy and beloved, must put on. That character honors God by keeping His commandments and makes a clear distinction between those who serve God and those who serve Him not, between the obedient and the disobedient. Developing it in this life, separate from disobedience and with respect to the future reward, makes calling and election sure and leaves no doubt about the character to be developed. It is possession of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearance, forgiveness, and charity, with believers of varied traits harmonized in church life, of one mind and one judgment, speaking the same things and allowing no division. Each one is to closely examine the heart, obtain individual experience through constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer, exercise living faith to reach the Bible standard so as to claim the promises, and remain thankful under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit pledged in baptism into Christ's death and resurrection, fitted for mission work.
The ruling peace belongs with putting on mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and forgiveness even as Christ forgave, and above all charity as the bond of perfectness. Those called in one body live day by day dependent on God's mercy and must continually seek forgiveness while freely forgiving others, harboring no hardness of heart, dislike, resentment, or retaliation for provocation or quarrel. Realizing the greatness of God's mercy, His bearing with perversity and His readiness to forgive the repentant, makes partakers of the divine nature tender, compassionate, forbearing, merciful, and ready to forgive. This peace is joined with thankfulness and with a life reformed by unselfish love and speech that encourages rather than wounds, as marks of complete Christian character.
God's peace governing the heart melts pride and harshness and makes a person tender, kind, courteous and careful in dealing with others. It forbids a harsh, dictatorial spirit, sharp words, harsh criticisms and denunciations that discourage and bruise souls, wound fellow workers, and wound Christ Himself, and it requires treating each person as precious because purchased by Christ's blood and treating others as one desires to be treated. It puts away objectionable traits, yields pride and stubbornness, controls temper, and brings self-control that meets work and abuse with calmness and meekness. By continually seeking God's will and refusing to yield to every surrounding influence, resolving like Daniel not to gratify self at the cost of principle, the ruling peace forms a consistent, meek, resolute, cheerful, devout character in which sin finds no sanction and no place in words or actions. That life shows wise and upright conduct and elevated demeanor, walking wisely at home and before others in a perfect way, with words seasoned with grace, and its power gives solidity, firmness, spiritual courage and fortitude displaying uncompromising faith.
The peace rules when the Spirit of Christ shapes character and conduct and Christ dwells within as a living, working power. It means having the same mind that was in Christ, overcoming personal likes and dislikes and the desire to favor self to the disadvantage of others, cultivating kindness, forbearance and love and representing Christ instead of self, vanity and overestimation of talent and station. Then thoughts, words and actions testify to new birth from God and to a blameless life in daily business, with grace, meekness, lowliness, kindness, gentleness and love controlling acts and dictating words. Its gracious radiance blesses, encourages and builds others, leaving a bright track heavenward where only the fragrance of good works is remembered. Even quiet lives without public preaching become effective witnesses and living preachers of righteousness, shining purest when least conscious of their own brightness, with fitly spoken words that are gracious and effective.
This life shines as light-bearers amid sin and crime by cross-bearing and self-denial after Christ's example, having put on the new man renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator where Christ is all and in all. It adorns the doctrine of Christ the Saviour, which is the work every son and daughter of God must do, and by kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness and love it leaves unbelievers with a favorable impression of the truth. It is to be lived out actively, not idly, amid conflict where evil works, with the word dwelling richly in teaching, admonishing, psalms, hymns, spiritual songs and singing with grace, and doing all in word and deed in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanksgiving.
Receiving and Keeping Peace
Peace is not forced upon the heart but is received by deliberate choice to make room for it, to open the door and welcome it to govern within, and to invite Jesus to abide as an honored guest. Such welcome requires surrender of worldly ambitions and indulgences, removal of the passions that possess the soul, surrender of will and way, and cleansing from sin, for only then does perfect peace with God take possession. Self must be brought under Christ's control and crucified, and self removed from the heart, before God's peace can rule there. Until self is crucified, unbounded self-esteem, jealousy, evil-surmising and uncontrolled imagination wound and bruise the soul with its own imaginings, keep it in unhappiness, make action erratic and weak, mar God's cause, and forfeit both peace and the confidence of brethren.
It comes by childlike faith and trust in God's love, care and promises, by believing the assurance means exactly what it says without doubting even when an answer is not immediately returned, and by fastening the mind on the promises and speaking of them with joy while refusing suggestions of unbelief. The eyes are to be fixed on Christ the Pattern, with turning from the world to the living God, seeking God's will at cost to self as Daniel did, and learning and doing God's will in obedience to His law. Truth must be received into the heart by searching Scripture with earnest prayer until faith working by love purifies from selfishness. Obedience with such faith and trust brings peace and joy and supports patient, loving, kind work for others, with gratitude that Christ bought believers at great cost to regain through obedience what Adam lost.
The peace is kept by relying on the pledged power and grace of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by praying in faith and watching unto prayer, by letting the word dwell richly in wisdom, and by teaching, singing and doing all in word and deed in the name of Jesus with grace and thanksgiving in the heart. It must be carried into daily life in the holy principles of Christ's religion, for to fail there is great loss, since it is God's gift that money cannot buy and that talent and intellect cannot command. Constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer give individual experience and close examination of heart, with no one excused from this practical work of harmonizing with varied traits in church life. It can become constant and river-like through prayer three to five times a day with grateful praise for mercies even in sleepless nights.
Keeping it requires putting away suspicious jealousies, evil-surmising, unjust criticism, evil speaking, faultfinding, uncharitable thoughts and miserable surmisings, closing the heart to them, learning silence, and thinking no evil. The heart is to be closed to distrust, imagining evil against brethren and accusing them, and opened to Christ, with fretting and complaining refused as the devil's snare, darkness and discouragement refused in word, and only encouragement and unwavering faith spoken and written. Speech is to advance God's glory rather than self, sowing good seed that bears fruit unto eternal life, with praise from the lips instead of criticism and a constant aim to unify rather than cause dissension. Even under rainy, uncomfortable and disagreeable conditions, patience speaks words of good cheer rather than complaint or murmuring, refusing to make hardship worse by dwelling on discomforts.
It holds firm in sickness and in unforeseen, unexpected, nearly overwhelming trials, giving unshaken trust and confidence and proving God a present help in every time of need. Amid discouragement, falsehood and the harmful actions of others it sustains, with Christ as shield and salvation, bringing quietude and rest. It cures false suspicions and imaginings that brethren lack confidence, intend slights or inflict injury, forbids thinking evil of them without cause, restores confiding confidence that is reflected back, and resists the enemy's temptations. Resting in God's care means entrusting the soul to Him, trusting Him to keep what is committed and to work in His own way, moving forward without tears and complaints when results are unseen and without forcing events to fit personal plans.
Submitting to this rule affects the body and daily labor, for heard and obeyed as a continual government under the Spirit rather than a transient guest, it converts the soul and also improves bodily health. It depends on how a person lives, keeping the body free from wrong eating and selfish indulgence, refusing appetites that strengthen unholy passions, removing every stumbling block from unbelievers, and living what the Christian profession requires. Anxious continuous labor must stop, with trust in God instead of worry and strong feeling that endanger health and hinder service. Mind and strength are to be guarded from unnecessary cares, burdensome efforts and methods demanding great expense that draw attention to human display instead of Christ, while the mind fastened on the mighty Healer trusts Him for restoration of body and soul.
Speech and Relationships
When the peace is welcomed and given room to govern the heart, worthless and harmful words do not pour from the lips, and corrupt, foolish, sharp, critical, sarcastic, harsh and dictatorial speech that discourages, wounds and bruises souls is put away. Such words fail to soften or improve character, while a heart ruled by Jesus produces life-giving words and actions with peace and joy beyond understanding. Speech then carries the gentleness of Christ, is seasoned with grace, softens and subdues even a forceful spirit, and becomes pleasant in manner in a way others notice, preserving influence for good instead of a harsh, abrupt, repelling manner that causes others to doubt one's Christianity and displeases God. This belongs with putting on mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, forgiving even as Christ forgave, and love as the bond of perfectness, lived as those called together in one body with thankfulness, with great carefulness toward those nearby and putting away objectionable traits. Fitting speech then teaches and corrects one another through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with grace in the heart and praise to God, treating each person as precious because purchased by blood and as one desires to be treated, since harsh denunciations wound fellow workers and Christ Himself.
The same ruling peace makes a person a peacemaker in the family and in the church, loving one another as Christ loved, so that unkind words, jealousy, envy, scolding, fretting and contention give way to peace. Little differences and mistakes are passed over without comment rather than magnified, the good in the other is kept in thought, and harsh words that would create difference and alienation are checked. In their place are spoken words that cement hearts and heal rather than wound and estrange, words that unite rather than alienate. When difficulties arise they are to be cleared away among members before the Sabbath comes as a Christian duty, the rubbish accumulated before the door of the heart swept away and the door opened to invite Jesus to abide as honored guest, so that peace and comfort fill one's own heart and are brought into the hearts of others, which is most blessed missionary work.
Where the peace rules there is no room for complaint, criticism, faultfinding, dissecting character, marking objectionable features, calling attention to faults, sitting in judgment over fellow servants to seek out spots and stains, evil-speaking, accusing, misrepresentation, suspicion, jealousy, or retaliation for provocation, for no one is made a sin-bearer over others. Miserable surmisings, evil surmising, unjust criticism and faultfinding that destroy unity are put away and no place is given to the devil, and the talent of speech is used to advance God's glory rather than self, with a constant aim to unify brethren instead of causing dissension and strife and to sow good seed that bears fruit unto eternal life. The heart is closed to distrust, to imagining evil against brethren and accusing them, and opened to Christ, with fretting, complaining, worry, darkness, unbelief, discouragement and mistrust refused in word as the devil's snare. Amazement at God's goodness and love instead fills the heart with thanksgiving and praise from the lips, and under unjust accusation answering back is left aside, the believer remaining still and thankful in trust, with Christ's tenderness, sympathy and love replacing envy and revenge in a meek and quiet spirit. This peace cures false suspicions and imaginings that brethren lack confidence, intend slights or inflict injury, forbids thinking evil of them without cause, keeps the mind cheerful, happy, courageous and thankful, draws close to brethren in unity and expressed love, restores confiding confidence that is reflected back, and resists the enemy, whereas suspicion does brethren injustice, injures the soul, perverts ideas, weakens efficiency and loosens hold on Christ. It depends on self being crucified, for until then unbounded self-esteem, jealousy, evil surmising and uncontrolled imagination keep the peace from controlling, wounding and bruising the soul with its own imaginings, keeping it in unhappiness, acting erratically, revealing weakness, marring God's cause and forfeiting the confidence of brethren. Those ruled by it speak and write only encouragement and unwavering faith, hold Jesus as personal Saviour, beat back despondency and gloom, make melody to God in the soul, triumph in God while acknowledging that the everlasting portion and heavenly treasure depend on shed blood, and lead others to see God as their only help and to flee to Him for refuge by laying hold of the hope set before them in the gospel.
The peace thus shapes relationships by words that comfort and strengthen one another rather than complain or dwell on faults, and by faithfully admonishing one another with love and grace as those called into one body with thankfulness. Those who follow God's instructions and seek His will in prayer experience this peace instead of creating needless grievances by departing from His word, and gratitude leads them to praise God with love binding them together. Its power strengthens and mellows the disposition, and it is both duty and privilege to seek a character so consistent that sin finds no place in words or actions, walking wisely in the home and before others and in a perfect way so that prayer can be heard and answered. Christlikeness in words and actions shows walking with God, revealing heaven's uplifting principles in every association, with words seasoned with the grace of Christ, cheerful, happy, hopeful and uplifting so as to encourage others and be a blessing where one is, so that when life's work closes only the fragrance of good works and words is remembered. The governing peace controls acts and dictates words, proved by a blameless life in daily business and association with others, making a person a living preacher and an effective minister of righteousness to those for whom Christ died, shining before watching men so they glorify God, with fitly spoken words that are gracious and effective.
Thankfulness in Daily Life
Thankfulness is commanded as the expression of grace and godliness in the heart, the savor that shows its source and how it is retained. By praise and thanksgiving connection with God is maintained, and each soul doing his work with that savor exerts an unseen influence as a savor of life. It is to be expressed in words of praise and rejoicing that glorify the divine name, in calm repose sustained amid difficulties by remembering love, care and daily blessings, and in thanks for keeping through the night, for peace within, and for fresh blessings each day. The indwelling peace leads in everything to give thanks, and dwelling on discouraging experiences, unhappy trials and unpleasant recollections of the past unfits the mind for it to dwell.
Being thankful means bringing gratitude into life and giving thought to the heavenly Father by counting the blessings bestowed day by day and recounting them until many supposed trials disappear. It means putting away fretful repining, complaint, murmuring, doleful expression, mourning, weeping and looking on the dark side even for a moment, and refusing to make rainy, uncomfortable and disagreeable conditions ten times worse by talking about discomforts and dwelling on having a hard time. Instead discomforts are to be endured with patience and good cheer, with words of good cheer rather than complaint, with trust forever in the Lord who loves, gave His life to give happiness and joy forevermore, and will keep in care and never forsake nor leave to self. Such cheerfulness appears in a natural smile on the countenance and in encouraging words by which others are encouraged and their hands stayed up, and those who praise instead of murmuring when things do not go pleasantly become sunshiny Christians whose uplifting, brightening, sanctifying influence and strengthening words lift souls above life's annoyances.
Thankfulness and a peaceful heart are cultivated and kept by obedience, childlike faith and trust in God, which bring peace and joy and support patient, loving, kind work for others. The soul is to be opened heavenward to the light of the Sun of Righteousness, with the windows of the soul lifted heavenward and closed earthward in a much deeper experience, praising God with heart and soul and voice, talking of His goodness and power, and looking on the bright side of everything. This forbids complaint, mourning, weeping and bringing cloud or shadow into the home, sweetens the atmosphere surrounding the soul so everything goes smoothly, and gives strength to bear all sufferings and to rejoice in grace to endure. Reason for gratitude is that Christ bought believers at great cost and placed them where through obedience they can regain what Adam lost through disobedience and where they may receive blessing.
In household life, the one body of the family, this peace is to govern with rest in the Lord rather than faultfinding or harshness, putting on mercy, kindness, humbleness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness as Christ forgave, and above all love as the bond of perfection, with thankfulness dwelling within and the word dwelling richly in teaching and singing and all done in the name of Jesus in thankfulness to the Father. Unkind words, jealousy, envy, scolding, fretting, contention and irritating words give way to peace when family members love one another as Christ loved them, and the selfish, harsh spirit that fuels conflict at home is replaced. Husbands are forbidden bitterness, resentment and harshness even when the wife is erring and full of faults, since bitterness of spirit will not remedy evil, and wives are to keep spiritual judgment and not adopt severe condemnatory practices. Parents make Christ's peace real to children by living with it ruling within and His love shaping life, showing peace and consolation in face and life to make home sunny, attractive, a heaven on earth and a place of missionary work through kind, tender, comforting words and little acts of kindness.
In church, school, sanitarium and mission work the ruling peace with thankfulness is the means of cleansing and uplifting institutions to a high, holy standard, calling the whole religious experience to be molded to the divine likeness in fellowship and especially in sanitarium work in readiness to meet the Lord. It belongs with putting on as the elect mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness even as Christ forgave, and charity as the bond of perfectness, and with letting the word dwell richly in wisdom in teaching, admonishing, psalms, hymns and spiritual songs and doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanksgiving. Workers are to bring this into practical life by laying aside selfish striving to be first and to master others and by walking worthy in lowliness and unity, which brings a spirit of peace inviting the divine presence, less contention and more harmonious action, calm dignity in relieving suffering, and tenderness replacing envy and revenge. This constitutes Christian character and fitness for mission work to be taught by schools in different localities under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit pledged in baptism into Christ's death and resurrection, and it is to be cultivated in forming children's characters, with students feeling the Word's influence so grace becomes visible and quarrelsome, unconverted, discordant influences cleansed away.
The verse calls for the peace of God to govern the inner life continually, for believers to live this out as those called together in one body, and for them to remain thankful. To rule means not a brief visit but a welcomed, abiding control of the heart that is given room to dwell and remain. That peace is the peace of Christ, freely given by God where love reigns, which cannot be bought or commanded by human ability. Being called in one body means those of varied traits brought together must harmonize in one mind and judgment, allowing no division and striving for the oneness Christ shares with the Father. It is received by choosing to open the heart to Christ, surrendering self and worldly ambition, and trusting God's love and promises in obedience, and it is kept by prayer, letting the word dwell richly, putting away suspicion and faultfinding, and holding firm in trial with thankfulness expressed in praise and cheerful daily life.
Wording and Context
The command is that the peace of God govern the heart, that believers live this out as those called together in one body, and that they be thankful. That governing belongs to life together in the one body to which they have been called, joining peace with thankfulness as part of a harmonious, Christlike life. To rule means to govern and control the inner life continually, not to remain only as a transient guest, and heard and obeyed it converts the soul. The peace must be welcomed, let in and given a welcome place, given room and a dwelling place, allowed to enter, abide and remain and to govern. Letting it rule in this chosen way preserves influence for good, brings peace and joy beyond understanding, and restrains speech from words that fail to soften or improve character, so that a heart ruled by Jesus produces life-giving words and actions.
The peace of God is the peace of Christ, pervading the soul and ruling the heart. It is freely given by God as a gift that money cannot buy and that brilliant talent and intellect cannot command or secure, and it abides in the soul where love reigns. Its rule appears in the meekness and lowliness of Christ, which is the Christian's power, more precious than anything genius can create or wealth can buy, to be carried into daily life in the holy principles of Christ's religion, for to fail in this is great loss. When the Spirit of Christ shapes character and conduct, thoughts, words and actions testify to new birth, influence blesses and builds others, and life gains a gracious radiance that makes even quiet lives without public preaching and with least self-display effective witnesses for righteousness. Parents make this real to children by living with that peace ruling within and with love shaping life.
The verse belongs with putting on compassion, mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, patience, forbearance, forgiveness even as Christ forgave, and above all love or charity as the bond of perfectness and completeness. It belongs with letting the word of God or of Christ dwell richly in wisdom, in teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with grace, and in doing all in word and deed in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanksgiving. This is the means by which God cleanses and uplifts His institutions to a high, holy standard, keeping Christians united with no provision for drawing apart, revealing Christ's character through love for one another as brethren. Striving to excel in practicing this known will and Word is the only lawful strife, and practicing it is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. It condemns a cold, critical, sarcastic spirit that drives out the love of Jesus, and requires those leading God's work to expel that spirit, be filled with the spirit of Jesus, continue in prayer with thanksgiving, speak always with grace, and so become vessels unto honor and workmen who need not be ashamed.
The verse describes those risen with Christ, dead to the old sinful life and to the world by baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pledged to serve God, to resist temptation by heaven-given power and grace, and to represent the resurrection of Christ in newness of life. Their life is hid with Christ in God as the new man renewed after the image of Him that created him, pledged to practice the virtues of the Saviour's character and to represent the life of Christ. It calls those risen with Christ to seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and to set affection on things above, not on things on the earth, by the transforming power of the grace of Christ affecting heart and character. It belongs to putting off fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and lying, and to putting away sin and living out the fruits of righteousness while keeping baptismal vows, with intellectual and divine enlightenment under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit pledged in baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. The ruling peace in that new life guards weak points of character with rigor, maintains self-control and purity, and keeps out seducing and evil spirits so that no one need walk into Satan's trap for the unwary, and it is kept by relying on the pledged power and grace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, by praying in faith and watching unto prayer, and by teaching, singing and doing all in word and deed in the name of Jesus with grace and thanksgiving in the heart.
The passage is teaching on faith, part of Colossians 3:10-16 spoken to give encouragement to ministers and to believers gathered together. It teaches those following Christ forward and upward in the pathway of light, as daily learners in the school of Christ who have no wisdom to guide themselves aright and who take no backward steps, to allow God's peace to govern their hearts as people called in one body and to be thankful, as a lesson from the great Teacher to be practiced and imparted to others. It gives part of the Bible standard believers must reach by exercising living faith in the promises of God, so that in reaching it they may claim the precious promises of Jehovah.
Unity in One Body
Being called in one body means believers of varied traits and character brought together in church life must harmonize and cherish kind thoughts and feelings for one another. They are to be of one mind and one judgment, to speak the same things, to allow no division, and to make no provision for drawing apart from each other. They are to strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind, doing nothing through strife or vainglory but in lowliness esteeming others better. No one is excused from this practical work, and each is to examine the heart closely, obtain an individual experience through constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer, and remain thankful. This oneness is lived by serving in all lowliness of mind with a humble and contrite spirit, walking humbly, loving the brethren and linking and uniting with them rather than choosing only one's own society and separating from any who will not accept one's own ideas and plans, laying aside self-sufficiency and love of self, and practicing the truth in word, spirit, and action.
When Christ takes possession of the affections, selfish ambition and the desire for supremacy die and give way to sympathy, tender compassion, unselfish care, and harmony among fellow believers. Choosing only one's own society and separating over personal ideas and plans is laid aside with self-sufficiency and love of self, and in its place come lowliness, esteeming others better, and linking and uniting with the brethren. Selfish striving to be first and to master others is laid aside, so that workers walk worthy in lowliness and unity. Personal opinions and faults are thus prevented from disrupting the unity of the church.
Christ's peace in the heart brings peace with God and peace between fellow believers, and it is the opposite of discord, strife, envy, suspicion, hatred, rivalry, and friction. It lifts the heart above life's annoyances and trials, so that without it a person becomes unhappy and discontented, sees faults everywhere, and spreads discord. Where it rules, putting away sins and coming into harmony with God brings harmony with one another in one body. This unity leaves no room for rivalry or friction among fellow workers, for Christ and not any human leader directs them, and no one is to set himself up as the standard. The same governing peace makes peace in the family easier to establish.
This unity is kept by practicing the known will and Word, cultivating kindness, forbearance, and love, and putting on charity as the bond of perfectness. It is kept by forbearing one another and forgiving even as Christ forgave, with mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering. It is kept by laying aside selfish striving to be first and to master others, by respecting and working harmoniously with one another, and by ending contention in love and unity. It is kept by encouraging church members whom the Spirit calls to labor rather than hindering their work. It is kept by rejecting evil speaking, accusing, faultfinding, misrepresentation, suspicious jealousy, evil-surmising, unjust criticism, and uncharitable thoughts, closing the heart to them, learning silence, and thinking no evil.
Character Formed by Peace
Letting the peace of God rule in the heart is genuine fruit of righteousness proving living connection with Christ, and part of the character the elect, holy and beloved, must put on. That character honors God by keeping His commandments and makes a clear distinction between those who serve God and those who serve Him not, between the obedient and the disobedient. Developing it in this life, separate from disobedience and with respect to the future reward, makes calling and election sure and leaves no doubt about the character to be developed. It is possession of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearance, forgiveness, and charity, with believers of varied traits harmonized in church life, of one mind and one judgment, speaking the same things and allowing no division. Each one is to closely examine the heart, obtain individual experience through constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer, exercise living faith to reach the Bible standard so as to claim the promises, and remain thankful under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit pledged in baptism into Christ's death and resurrection, fitted for mission work.
The ruling peace belongs with putting on mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and forgiveness even as Christ forgave, and above all charity as the bond of perfectness. Those called in one body live day by day dependent on God's mercy and must continually seek forgiveness while freely forgiving others, harboring no hardness of heart, dislike, resentment, or retaliation for provocation or quarrel. Realizing the greatness of God's mercy, His bearing with perversity and His readiness to forgive the repentant, makes partakers of the divine nature tender, compassionate, forbearing, merciful, and ready to forgive. This peace is joined with thankfulness and with a life reformed by unselfish love and speech that encourages rather than wounds, as marks of complete Christian character.
God's peace governing the heart melts pride and harshness and makes a person tender, kind, courteous and careful in dealing with others. It forbids a harsh, dictatorial spirit, sharp words, harsh criticisms and denunciations that discourage and bruise souls, wound fellow workers, and wound Christ Himself, and it requires treating each person as precious because purchased by Christ's blood and treating others as one desires to be treated. It puts away objectionable traits, yields pride and stubbornness, controls temper, and brings self-control that meets work and abuse with calmness and meekness. By continually seeking God's will and refusing to yield to every surrounding influence, resolving like Daniel not to gratify self at the cost of principle, the ruling peace forms a consistent, meek, resolute, cheerful, devout character in which sin finds no sanction and no place in words or actions. That life shows wise and upright conduct and elevated demeanor, walking wisely at home and before others in a perfect way, with words seasoned with grace, and its power gives solidity, firmness, spiritual courage and fortitude displaying uncompromising faith.
The peace rules when the Spirit of Christ shapes character and conduct and Christ dwells within as a living, working power. It means having the same mind that was in Christ, overcoming personal likes and dislikes and the desire to favor self to the disadvantage of others, cultivating kindness, forbearance and love and representing Christ instead of self, vanity and overestimation of talent and station. Then thoughts, words and actions testify to new birth from God and to a blameless life in daily business, with grace, meekness, lowliness, kindness, gentleness and love controlling acts and dictating words. Its gracious radiance blesses, encourages and builds others, leaving a bright track heavenward where only the fragrance of good works is remembered. Even quiet lives without public preaching become effective witnesses and living preachers of righteousness, shining purest when least conscious of their own brightness, with fitly spoken words that are gracious and effective.
This life shines as light-bearers amid sin and crime by cross-bearing and self-denial after Christ's example, having put on the new man renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator where Christ is all and in all. It adorns the doctrine of Christ the Saviour, which is the work every son and daughter of God must do, and by kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness and love it leaves unbelievers with a favorable impression of the truth. It is to be lived out actively, not idly, amid conflict where evil works, with the word dwelling richly in teaching, admonishing, psalms, hymns, spiritual songs and singing with grace, and doing all in word and deed in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanksgiving.
Receiving and Keeping Peace
Peace is not forced upon the heart but is received by deliberate choice to make room for it, to open the door and welcome it to govern within, and to invite Jesus to abide as an honored guest. Such welcome requires surrender of worldly ambitions and indulgences, removal of the passions that possess the soul, surrender of will and way, and cleansing from sin, for only then does perfect peace with God take possession. Self must be brought under Christ's control and crucified, and self removed from the heart, before God's peace can rule there. Until self is crucified, unbounded self-esteem, jealousy, evil-surmising and uncontrolled imagination wound and bruise the soul with its own imaginings, keep it in unhappiness, make action erratic and weak, mar God's cause, and forfeit both peace and the confidence of brethren.
It comes by childlike faith and trust in God's love, care and promises, by believing the assurance means exactly what it says without doubting even when an answer is not immediately returned, and by fastening the mind on the promises and speaking of them with joy while refusing suggestions of unbelief. The eyes are to be fixed on Christ the Pattern, with turning from the world to the living God, seeking God's will at cost to self as Daniel did, and learning and doing God's will in obedience to His law. Truth must be received into the heart by searching Scripture with earnest prayer until faith working by love purifies from selfishness. Obedience with such faith and trust brings peace and joy and supports patient, loving, kind work for others, with gratitude that Christ bought believers at great cost to regain through obedience what Adam lost.
The peace is kept by relying on the pledged power and grace of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by praying in faith and watching unto prayer, by letting the word dwell richly in wisdom, and by teaching, singing and doing all in word and deed in the name of Jesus with grace and thanksgiving in the heart. It must be carried into daily life in the holy principles of Christ's religion, for to fail there is great loss, since it is God's gift that money cannot buy and that talent and intellect cannot command. Constant watchfulness and unceasing prayer give individual experience and close examination of heart, with no one excused from this practical work of harmonizing with varied traits in church life. It can become constant and river-like through prayer three to five times a day with grateful praise for mercies even in sleepless nights.
Keeping it requires putting away suspicious jealousies, evil-surmising, unjust criticism, evil speaking, faultfinding, uncharitable thoughts and miserable surmisings, closing the heart to them, learning silence, and thinking no evil. The heart is to be closed to distrust, imagining evil against brethren and accusing them, and opened to Christ, with fretting and complaining refused as the devil's snare, darkness and discouragement refused in word, and only encouragement and unwavering faith spoken and written. Speech is to advance God's glory rather than self, sowing good seed that bears fruit unto eternal life, with praise from the lips instead of criticism and a constant aim to unify rather than cause dissension. Even under rainy, uncomfortable and disagreeable conditions, patience speaks words of good cheer rather than complaint or murmuring, refusing to make hardship worse by dwelling on discomforts.
It holds firm in sickness and in unforeseen, unexpected, nearly overwhelming trials, giving unshaken trust and confidence and proving God a present help in every time of need. Amid discouragement, falsehood and the harmful actions of others it sustains, with Christ as shield and salvation, bringing quietude and rest. It cures false suspicions and imaginings that brethren lack confidence, intend slights or inflict injury, forbids thinking evil of them without cause, restores confiding confidence that is reflected back, and resists the enemy's temptations. Resting in God's care means entrusting the soul to Him, trusting Him to keep what is committed and to work in His own way, moving forward without tears and complaints when results are unseen and without forcing events to fit personal plans.
Submitting to this rule affects the body and daily labor, for heard and obeyed as a continual government under the Spirit rather than a transient guest, it converts the soul and also improves bodily health. It depends on how a person lives, keeping the body free from wrong eating and selfish indulgence, refusing appetites that strengthen unholy passions, removing every stumbling block from unbelievers, and living what the Christian profession requires. Anxious continuous labor must stop, with trust in God instead of worry and strong feeling that endanger health and hinder service. Mind and strength are to be guarded from unnecessary cares, burdensome efforts and methods demanding great expense that draw attention to human display instead of Christ, while the mind fastened on the mighty Healer trusts Him for restoration of body and soul.
Speech and Relationships
When the peace is welcomed and given room to govern the heart, worthless and harmful words do not pour from the lips, and corrupt, foolish, sharp, critical, sarcastic, harsh and dictatorial speech that discourages, wounds and bruises souls is put away. Such words fail to soften or improve character, while a heart ruled by Jesus produces life-giving words and actions with peace and joy beyond understanding. Speech then carries the gentleness of Christ, is seasoned with grace, softens and subdues even a forceful spirit, and becomes pleasant in manner in a way others notice, preserving influence for good instead of a harsh, abrupt, repelling manner that causes others to doubt one's Christianity and displeases God. This belongs with putting on mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, forgiving even as Christ forgave, and love as the bond of perfectness, lived as those called together in one body with thankfulness, with great carefulness toward those nearby and putting away objectionable traits. Fitting speech then teaches and corrects one another through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with grace in the heart and praise to God, treating each person as precious because purchased by blood and as one desires to be treated, since harsh denunciations wound fellow workers and Christ Himself.
The same ruling peace makes a person a peacemaker in the family and in the church, loving one another as Christ loved, so that unkind words, jealousy, envy, scolding, fretting and contention give way to peace. Little differences and mistakes are passed over without comment rather than magnified, the good in the other is kept in thought, and harsh words that would create difference and alienation are checked. In their place are spoken words that cement hearts and heal rather than wound and estrange, words that unite rather than alienate. When difficulties arise they are to be cleared away among members before the Sabbath comes as a Christian duty, the rubbish accumulated before the door of the heart swept away and the door opened to invite Jesus to abide as honored guest, so that peace and comfort fill one's own heart and are brought into the hearts of others, which is most blessed missionary work.
Where the peace rules there is no room for complaint, criticism, faultfinding, dissecting character, marking objectionable features, calling attention to faults, sitting in judgment over fellow servants to seek out spots and stains, evil-speaking, accusing, misrepresentation, suspicion, jealousy, or retaliation for provocation, for no one is made a sin-bearer over others. Miserable surmisings, evil surmising, unjust criticism and faultfinding that destroy unity are put away and no place is given to the devil, and the talent of speech is used to advance God's glory rather than self, with a constant aim to unify brethren instead of causing dissension and strife and to sow good seed that bears fruit unto eternal life. The heart is closed to distrust, to imagining evil against brethren and accusing them, and opened to Christ, with fretting, complaining, worry, darkness, unbelief, discouragement and mistrust refused in word as the devil's snare. Amazement at God's goodness and love instead fills the heart with thanksgiving and praise from the lips, and under unjust accusation answering back is left aside, the believer remaining still and thankful in trust, with Christ's tenderness, sympathy and love replacing envy and revenge in a meek and quiet spirit. This peace cures false suspicions and imaginings that brethren lack confidence, intend slights or inflict injury, forbids thinking evil of them without cause, keeps the mind cheerful, happy, courageous and thankful, draws close to brethren in unity and expressed love, restores confiding confidence that is reflected back, and resists the enemy, whereas suspicion does brethren injustice, injures the soul, perverts ideas, weakens efficiency and loosens hold on Christ. It depends on self being crucified, for until then unbounded self-esteem, jealousy, evil surmising and uncontrolled imagination keep the peace from controlling, wounding and bruising the soul with its own imaginings, keeping it in unhappiness, acting erratically, revealing weakness, marring God's cause and forfeiting the confidence of brethren. Those ruled by it speak and write only encouragement and unwavering faith, hold Jesus as personal Saviour, beat back despondency and gloom, make melody to God in the soul, triumph in God while acknowledging that the everlasting portion and heavenly treasure depend on shed blood, and lead others to see God as their only help and to flee to Him for refuge by laying hold of the hope set before them in the gospel.
The peace thus shapes relationships by words that comfort and strengthen one another rather than complain or dwell on faults, and by faithfully admonishing one another with love and grace as those called into one body with thankfulness. Those who follow God's instructions and seek His will in prayer experience this peace instead of creating needless grievances by departing from His word, and gratitude leads them to praise God with love binding them together. Its power strengthens and mellows the disposition, and it is both duty and privilege to seek a character so consistent that sin finds no place in words or actions, walking wisely in the home and before others and in a perfect way so that prayer can be heard and answered. Christlikeness in words and actions shows walking with God, revealing heaven's uplifting principles in every association, with words seasoned with the grace of Christ, cheerful, happy, hopeful and uplifting so as to encourage others and be a blessing where one is, so that when life's work closes only the fragrance of good works and words is remembered. The governing peace controls acts and dictates words, proved by a blameless life in daily business and association with others, making a person a living preacher and an effective minister of righteousness to those for whom Christ died, shining before watching men so they glorify God, with fitly spoken words that are gracious and effective.
Thankfulness in Daily Life
Thankfulness is commanded as the expression of grace and godliness in the heart, the savor that shows its source and how it is retained. By praise and thanksgiving connection with God is maintained, and each soul doing his work with that savor exerts an unseen influence as a savor of life. It is to be expressed in words of praise and rejoicing that glorify the divine name, in calm repose sustained amid difficulties by remembering love, care and daily blessings, and in thanks for keeping through the night, for peace within, and for fresh blessings each day. The indwelling peace leads in everything to give thanks, and dwelling on discouraging experiences, unhappy trials and unpleasant recollections of the past unfits the mind for it to dwell.
Being thankful means bringing gratitude into life and giving thought to the heavenly Father by counting the blessings bestowed day by day and recounting them until many supposed trials disappear. It means putting away fretful repining, complaint, murmuring, doleful expression, mourning, weeping and looking on the dark side even for a moment, and refusing to make rainy, uncomfortable and disagreeable conditions ten times worse by talking about discomforts and dwelling on having a hard time. Instead discomforts are to be endured with patience and good cheer, with words of good cheer rather than complaint, with trust forever in the Lord who loves, gave His life to give happiness and joy forevermore, and will keep in care and never forsake nor leave to self. Such cheerfulness appears in a natural smile on the countenance and in encouraging words by which others are encouraged and their hands stayed up, and those who praise instead of murmuring when things do not go pleasantly become sunshiny Christians whose uplifting, brightening, sanctifying influence and strengthening words lift souls above life's annoyances.
Thankfulness and a peaceful heart are cultivated and kept by obedience, childlike faith and trust in God, which bring peace and joy and support patient, loving, kind work for others. The soul is to be opened heavenward to the light of the Sun of Righteousness, with the windows of the soul lifted heavenward and closed earthward in a much deeper experience, praising God with heart and soul and voice, talking of His goodness and power, and looking on the bright side of everything. This forbids complaint, mourning, weeping and bringing cloud or shadow into the home, sweetens the atmosphere surrounding the soul so everything goes smoothly, and gives strength to bear all sufferings and to rejoice in grace to endure. Reason for gratitude is that Christ bought believers at great cost and placed them where through obedience they can regain what Adam lost through disobedience and where they may receive blessing.
In household life, the one body of the family, this peace is to govern with rest in the Lord rather than faultfinding or harshness, putting on mercy, kindness, humbleness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness as Christ forgave, and above all love as the bond of perfection, with thankfulness dwelling within and the word dwelling richly in teaching and singing and all done in the name of Jesus in thankfulness to the Father. Unkind words, jealousy, envy, scolding, fretting, contention and irritating words give way to peace when family members love one another as Christ loved them, and the selfish, harsh spirit that fuels conflict at home is replaced. Husbands are forbidden bitterness, resentment and harshness even when the wife is erring and full of faults, since bitterness of spirit will not remedy evil, and wives are to keep spiritual judgment and not adopt severe condemnatory practices. Parents make Christ's peace real to children by living with it ruling within and His love shaping life, showing peace and consolation in face and life to make home sunny, attractive, a heaven on earth and a place of missionary work through kind, tender, comforting words and little acts of kindness.
In church, school, sanitarium and mission work the ruling peace with thankfulness is the means of cleansing and uplifting institutions to a high, holy standard, calling the whole religious experience to be molded to the divine likeness in fellowship and especially in sanitarium work in readiness to meet the Lord. It belongs with putting on as the elect mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness even as Christ forgave, and charity as the bond of perfectness, and with letting the word dwell richly in wisdom in teaching, admonishing, psalms, hymns and spiritual songs and doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanksgiving. Workers are to bring this into practical life by laying aside selfish striving to be first and to master others and by walking worthy in lowliness and unity, which brings a spirit of peace inviting the divine presence, less contention and more harmonious action, calm dignity in relieving suffering, and tenderness replacing envy and revenge. This constitutes Christian character and fitness for mission work to be taught by schools in different localities under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit pledged in baptism into Christ's death and resurrection, and it is to be cultivated in forming children's characters, with students feeling the Word's influence so grace becomes visible and quarrelsome, unconverted, discordant influences cleansed away.