(excerpts from Chris Musgrove of Future Now)
If Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is Lord over your life, then the peace of God should be ruling and reigning in you and in your life. God looks at the heart to see if it is divided or devoted. There are a lot of Christians who are devoted on the outside: they attend church, read their Bible occasionally and even pray when they need something. On the
outside they look peaceful, but on the inside there’s a battle raging. They are not serving God with a whole heart; their hearts are divided. I Samuel 16:7 says, “...But the Lord looks on the heart.”
Colossians 3:15 in the Amplified Bible says, “And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful
(appreciative), [giving praise to God always].”
Psalms 111:1 says, “Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,”
Matthew 6:25 says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.” The Greek word for worry is “merimnao”, which means to divide into parts. That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-33, “Do not worry saying, ‘What shall we eat or what shall we drink? What shall we
wear?’ 32-For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33-But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Worry and fear are sins that are allowed into your heart because you are not wholeheartedly seeking first the kingdom, and peace can’t rule where there are worry and fear.
James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you or be devoted to God and He will be devoted to you.” That verse goes on to say, “And purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God; 7-and the peace of God, which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Let us be a people that worship the Lord with all of our hearts and that will bring the peace of God into our lives.
