Colossians 3:15
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 answer is the peace of God in the heart and in the church. When a believer loses his inner peace he knows he has in some way disobeyed God.
Paul encourages the believer to “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” The word “rule” is an athletic term, which means, “to preside at the games and distribute the prizes.” In the Greek games, there were judges or umpires who rejected the contestants who were not qualified, and who disqualified those who broke the rules. The peace of God is the “Umpire” in the believer’s heart and in the church. When we obey the will of God, we have God’s peace within, but when we step out of His will (even unintentionally), our hearts will be troubled and not at peace with God.
We must beware of a false peace in the heart. Jonah deliberately disobeyed God, yet he was able to sleep in the bottom of the ship in a storm. Jonah 1:5, Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay,
and was fast asleep. Just to say “I have peace about it, is not sufficient evidence that you are in the will of God. We must
pray, surrender to His will, seek His guidance in Scriptures.
The peace of heart alone is not always the peace of God. Another evidence of peace involves peace with others in the church. The nature of our relationship with God involves other believers. If we are out of the will of God, we are certain to bring discord and disharmony in the church. Jonah though he was at peace, when actually his sins created a storm! When a Christian loses the peace of God, he begins to go of in directions that are out of the will of God. He will turn to the things of the world and the flesh to compensate for his lack of peace within. He will try to escape, but he cannot escape himself! It is only when he confesses his sin, claims God’s forgiveness, and does God’s will that he experiences God’s peace within.
Finally, when a believer is happy he will be thankful. The believer out of God’s will is never found giving sincere praise
to God. When David covered up his sin he lost his peace and praise. When he confessed his sins the joy of his salvation returned. Psalms 32:1-5, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom
the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”
by Dennis Baker, Brotherhood President
