PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS
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What would it look like in your life if the Lord were to supernaturally provide you with his gift of real and meaningful peace? What would change in your thinking, in your relationships, in your work, if you could experience the gift of god’s peace today?
In this devotional, we are going to turn to the next section of Colossians 3:12-17 that we are covering in this series. In the passage that follows, we hear that we are in fact called to experience the peace of Jesus Christ and that we can and should take steps to invest in this gift of peace.
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 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.
(Colossians 3:15-16 NIV11)
Drama Addicts
Verse 15 begins by encouraging us to allow the peace of God given through the work of Jesus Christ into our lives.
This might seem strange to you. Who in their right mind would reject the offer of God’s peace? Why would anyone be unwilling to receive this gift of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and minds?
The answer might be because such people have become addicted to drama. They have allowed their conflict and complaints to become a vital part of their identity and purpose in life.
I have known lots of these people.
They seem to think that the world needs to hear all about their complaints and criticisms and that they must be proven right no matter the cost. Such people seem to reject peace in favor of constant conflict.
Welcome
But in this teaching we are being called by the Lord to embrace his gift of peace. We must see that God’s will for his people is that we should live at peace with one another because we have been made into the children of God.
We should seek unity rather than division. We should place the needs of the Body of Christ over our need to be right and to have everything done in accordance with our will.
Peace cannot exist inside a heart that is secretly addicted to chaotic drama.
Dwell Richly
One of the ways that we can combat addiction to drama is by allowing the message of the Bible, the Word of God, to be a part of our lives in such a way that it can be said to dwell richly within us.
We need to make the choice encounter the message of the Bible personally, directly, and frequently. We need to read the Bible in such a way that we are not looking only to increase our level of knowledge of Bible facts.
Instead, we need to allow the Word of God to work within us to the point that we are ready and willing to see it change us from the inside out.
Evidence
How can you know if the Word of God is dwelling richly in you and you in the message of God’s Word? When we begin to be filled with gratitude for the gifts of the Spirit, for the works of Christ, and for the encouragement of the people of God, then we can know for sure that we are investing in ourselves in such a way that we are experiencing the gift of God’s peace.
When you feel the desire to praise God in times of musical worship, to thank the Lord in times of dedicated prayer, and feel the call of the Lord to lift your voice to the Lord in thanksgiving, then you are ready to welcome the peace of God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, I want to begin this day by expressing my gratitude for your love. I am eternally grateful for the gifts and works you have done for me. I am thankful that you have called be to experience your peace and I embrace this call, turning away from by old dramatic desires. I seek unity over criticism and complaint and cannot wait to see you at work in my heart today.
In Christ,
Ryan Laden
PASTOR RYAN LADEN
Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH
Worked at MTN. CHURCH
Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church
Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at Baylor University
Studied at Texas Tech University
Went to Castle Hills First Baptist
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