The Alive Journal

Colossians 3:15-17 (New International Version)

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Application

Wow, so much packed in to just a few verses here. Paul instructs us in verse 15 that we are to let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Then in verse 16 he says that we are to allow the Word of Christ to dwell richly in us. These are both actions that require day to day focus. It is a constant process to press out the anxiety that the world forces on us and allow the peace of Christ to rule our hearts. Equally difficult is the task of allowing the Word to live in our minds and our hearts. This requires constant attention and diligence to reading and meditating on the Scripture.

But that is exactly where we are called to be. Daily pressing in to the Word that is before us and working at the relationship with Jesus that we have entered in to. And when we focus on allowing the peace of Christ to rule our hearts and allow the word to dwell in us fully as we dedicate ourselves to the teaching we find there, verse 17 will only be a natural result. As our relationship with Jesus grows, we develop a natural desire to please Him in all that we do, recognizing that it is only through His life that we are capable of anything.

A recurring theme of Colossians and of this journal is putting off the old and putting on the new. Today, think and write about the things that are preventing you from allowing the peace of Christ to rule in your heart and allowing the Word to dwell richly there. Write out some steps to move in a different direction.