Mar 23 2022

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Is this verse from Colossians, Paul instructs the church at Colossae to let peace rule in their hearts and to be thankful. His instructions apply to our lives today. Does the peace of God rule in our hearts? Are we thankful? These questions are an opportunity to honestly assess where we are. Today, we'll think about what peace means and what thankfulness looks like.

When you think of peace, what comes to your mind? I think of a tranquil landscape, perhaps a soft river and clear sky. There is nothing disruptive about that environment; everything is gentle and calm. In the same way, our hearts should be calm, meaning they are not easily disturbed. Even though this world is full of surprises and some of them are not good, we are able to remain confident and firm in our beliefs and hope in the Lord. This brings us peace.

It is possible to have peace in all circumstances when we recognize that God is working through everything. Nothing happens that is beyond His jurisdiction. He knows and cares about everything in our lives and He will sustain us through everything that comes our way.

If we hear tragic or disturbing news, it is not possible to have peace—unless we have an anchor that goes deeper. The love of the Lord is this anchor. Nothing can compromise His love, and nothing can ever take it away. His love is the firm foundation on which we can build and return to our peace.

The second instruction Paul gives is to be thankful. As Christians, we have much to be thankful for. Because of Jesus, we have new life. We are no longer enslaved to sin, and we are loved by God more than we could ever understand. We should respond to His love with gratitude because the grace that He has shown is better than we could ever have imagined.

Thankfulness is the natural response to the saving grace of God. A heart of gratitude changes the way that we respond to adversity and other trials. It helps us recognize that our current circumstances are in the hands of a loving God who can always be trusted. Because of this, we are able to put on both peace and thankfulness in our hearts.

Dear Lord, I thank you for being so good to me. I want to have peace in my heart and to be thankful. Bring this verse to my mind when I struggle with that. I want to honor you, and I know that I need your help. I thank you for Jesus's life, Lord. In Jesus's name, amen.

Mar 22 2022

Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. :

Psalm 3 was written by King David when he was fleeing from Absalom, his son, who was seeking to kill him. David ends the psalm with today's verse, which says that salvation always comes from the Lord. This verse is an important reminder that our salvation is always from God and because of God. We cannot do anything to earn it and we cannot do anything to lose it.

What does it mean that our salvation always comes from God? For one, it means we cannot take any credit for it. We cannot have pride in ourselves because we are saved. Instead, if we have pride, it is in God who has the power to save us. He took us from death to life and we can rejoice because He made a way for us to join His kingdom.

This also means we are not responsible for anyone else's salvation. God is the only one who can save. We do not have the power to save anyone, just as we have no power to save ourselves. This should bring us great relief. We do not have to carry the burden of another's salvation on our shoulders. Instead, we can rest knowing that God is faithful and good and that He will bring about salvation in His timing.

At the same time, we can encourage other people to become curious about having a relationship with the Lord. The best way to do this is by showing the joy that we have in God. As David does at the end of this Psalm, we can recognize that the Lord's blessing is upon us because we are among His people. We have hope that goes beyond the world or our circumstances because we have a God who is beyond both. We're able to have peace and joy in difficult circumstances because we have faith in a God who is infinitely good and loving. This is a powerful testimony.

As you go about your day and encounter different people, think about representing the Lord well. Show joy and peace in your circumstances. Pray for those whom you encounter and ask the Lord to help you to honor Him in those encounters. At the end of the day, you can rest knowing that the Lord cares about them deeply and that their salvation belongs to Him.

Dear Lord, I am so grateful for the salvation that only you can provide. I could never earn it on my own. In the same way, I believe that you love all the people I encounter. Please guide me in my relationships with them to help them see you. In Jesus's name, amen.


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