LET PEACE RULE

Dining with Jesus Christian Episodes

THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Peace

For many of us, we are currently working through our plans to connect with family or friends over the next 24-to-48 hours as Thanksgiving unfolds. For some of us, that fills us with joy and anticipation. For others, family gatherings or celebrations around the holidays fill us with anxiety, fear, or sorrow.

Like it or not, Thanksgiving is coming. How we experience this day of gratitude and thanks is completely up to us. We get to decide whether this day is one that fills us with peace and gratitude, or one that fills us with dread and loathing.

In the passage that follows, we hear that peace and thankfulness are a part of our walk with God, thanks to the work of Jesus Christ. Turn your attention to this powerful message from God’s word for you today:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.”

Colossians 3:15-17 NIV11

Gift

In this section of instruction given by the Apostle Paul to the church of Jesus Christ, we hear that the follower of Christ has access to the gift of peace. This “gift of peace” is not the kind of peace we talk about when we talk of “worldly peace.”

The peace of Christ is not the absence of conflict, or the absence of trial and hardship. Think of the pain that Jesus endured as he travelled to the cross; think of the angry shouts and betrayals that Jesus endured as he followed the plan and purpose of the Lord.

Jesus Christ experienced the peace of the Holy Spirit within his times of suffering and trial. If we are going to be joined with his gift of peace, then we need to see that this peace can be experienced only as we submit our circumstances to the Lord.

Thankful

A big part of the peace of Christ is choosing to see the fingerprints of God wherever they can be seen and experienced. Where is God at work in your life? Give him thanks. Is God using you in your time of conflict and trial to be a peacemaker? Give him thanks.

If you want to experience the peace of Christ in your times of trial, make the conscious choice to turn to the Lord with a heart of gratitude for the fingerprints of God. Stop focusing on what is wrong, broken, hurting, and in need of redemption, and choose to celebrate the love and mercy of God that you experience as you walk with Jesus.

Dwell

Don’t miss the importance of the action word found in verse 16: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

We need to allow the Word of God, the worship of God, the expression of our praise, and the work of the Holy Spirit to “dwell” in our hearts. The things of God need to find purchase in our thoughts and attitudes if we are going to experience the gift of God’s peace.

These gifts cannot be fleeting and ephemeral, we must intentionally seek out the things of Christ and allow them to take root in our hearts and minds. That is where the peace of God lives.

Worship God in All You Do

As you turn your face to the events of Thanksgiving, to the ups and downs of family, travel, loneliness and sorrow for those no longer with us, remember that the peace of Christ can be yours.

You can have this Spirit-filled gift in your life, if you will take on the challenge laid before you in verse 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.”

· What is on your schedule today? Can you give it to the Lord as worship?

· Who are you nervous about seeing in the days ahead? Can you submit your part of these interactions to the Lord as an act of worship?

· Are you ready and willing to submit your words and attitudes to God as worship and service to the Lord? If so, the peace of Christ will be yours!

In Christ,

Ryan Laden

OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH

“TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP EACH OTHER IN LOVE TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”

 CONTACT INFO

Unknown's avatar

Published by Dining with Jesus Christian Episodes

DINING WITH JESUS PRODUCTIONS. - is a 501 C3 Non-Profit Organization. DINING WITH JESUS MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to give honor glory and praise to our Creator. With our Christian episodes create spiritual awareness among all nations about the importance of having a relationship with Jesus. With God’s love we cast out His word to all the nations of the world to gather His church. DINING WITH JESUS VISION STATEMENT Our vision is to strengthen families through God’s word and increasing the number of people locally and from all nations to come to Jesus. God’s word will spiritually heal and transform individuals and communities creating a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives along with responsibility and accountability. Churches, business owners, non-profits and other organizations will participate in DWJ episodes providing all our viewers information about basic community resources to better the lives of their families. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? James 2:16 New International Version (NIV). DINING WITH JESUS OUTCOME We are here to strengthen families and with God’s blessing we will see an increasing number of episodes helping us to bring people locally and from all nations to Jesus. All these people will make a difference in their families and in their community. We will build up an ongoing network of support with Evangelical Christian churches, the Christian community, nonprofit organizations, business owners and families to continue to strengthen families. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 NKJ. To watch our Christian blogs and videos for free go to: diningwithjesus.net Pease follow us and share with others. Please keep this Ministry in your daily prayers. God bless you. Dining with Jesus TV Copyright 2016-2021