“What does it mean to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart?” a woman in my Bible study asked as she looked up from her Bible. We had been studying Colossians for several weeks and were working to memorize chapter three together.
It was a good question. I had been mulling it over in my mind as well. Between the uneasy age that we live in and my own heart’s propensity toward anxiety, I had secretly hoped that the Lord would whisper into my ear the key to not being anxious anymore . . . that He would reveal three “easy” steps to let His peace rule in my heart.
The Lord hasn’t whispered in my ear, but He has spoken through His Word, which gives us an understanding of His peace and how to put it into practice through this passage.
Put Off and Put On
In Colossians 3 Paul lays out, in a logical way, some practical characteristics of being a Christ-follower. “So if you have been raised with Christ,” he starts in verse 1, letting us know that what follows is not merely a list of suggestions but outworkings of the Holy Spirit in our lives—hallmarks of true faith.
Seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (vv. 1–4)
Paul continues in verses 5–9 by listing various things that have no place in the life of a Christian. We call them the “put-offs.”
Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices.
Then in verses 12–17, Paul tells believers what to put on “as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved.” This includes:
Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
If the peace of God is a “put on,” a hallmark of genuine faith, what does it look like in practice? And how do we let it “rule”?
Goal!
Picture it this way: in soccer, there is a rule called “offside.” Without going into much detail, this rule can make or break whether a goal is counted. When offside is enacted, everyone on the field and in the stands stops because they know that the goal is being reviewed to see if it was offside—to see whether or not it counts.
Every eye is trained on the referee as he consults with the linesman or reviews the footage. The players know that what he is about to say matters because it will affect every minute of the game from that point forward. Soon they will all lurch into motion as the game moves on, but for now, they must stop, look at the referee, and hang on to every word that he says.
That is what it looks like for the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts.
The Greek word for “rule” in Colossians 3:15 is brabeuō. It’s an athletic term that can be loosely translated as “the act of being an umpire or referee.”1 A good referee isn’t indifferent or passive. He or she doesn’t just sit there, half paying attention to all that is going on. Instead, a good referee is an active participant in what is going on around them, alert, and ready to spring into action the second something is off.
Paul portrayed the peace of God in a similar way: it’s an active presence that is watching carefully and calling the shots.The peace of Christ decides how we’re going to continue playing the game.
How to Fix Your Eyes
When you’re in the midst of difficult circumstances—when you find yourself overwhelmed by complicated family dynamics, when a loved one gets a diagnosis you were dreading, when it looks like your paycheck just isn’t going to stretch for the rest of the month—is it really possible to pause and allow the peace of Christ to rule in your heart?
It is.
What Paul says in the rest of Colossians 3 is no coincidence. It gives us practical steps to take that will help us stop and look at the referee.
Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:14–16)
1. Rely on your family.
Paul reminded believers that relational love and peace are crucial for believers because we have been called together in one family. This family is one of the means of grace that the Lord has given to help you let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. As brothers and sisters in Christ come alongside you, they can recognize when you aren’t being ruled by that peace and exhort you to fix your eyes on the Lord.
2. Be thankful.
Do you ever feel like you’ve developed a case of “spiritual amnesia” and forgotten all that the Lord has done in your life and all that you have to thank Him for? Take the time to express your gratitude for what He has done in your life or even in the lives of others. You’ll end up gazing at the Lord’s faithfulness and goodness, which in turn, helps to focus your attention on the peace of Christ.
3. Dwell, Teach, and Admonish.
The Word of God is not just a collection of stories or teachings; it is alive, active, and able to penetrate the deepest parts of our hearts and minds (Heb. 4:12). When you immerse yourself in Scripture, you allow the truth of God’s promises, His character, and His love to reshape your thoughts and attitudes. The more you saturate your mind with God’s Word, the more readily you can turn your eyes to the peace of Christ, allowing you to continue on with the assurance that our God is sovereign and in control.
Within the family of God, this process is enriched. We don't just meditate on the Word in isolation; we share it. In community, we are called to teach and admonish each other in all wisdom, which means we help each other apply the truths of Scripture to our lives. When another believer speaks truth from the Word into our lives, it can act as a gentle but firm reminder of God’s presence and promises, helping to recenter our focus on Christ.
4. Sing!
Few things encourage my heart more than standing in church alongside brothers and sisters in Christ, singing praise to the Lord and listening to fellow believers sing. It bolsters my faith to hear us proclaim the truth together and with gusto. When we sing together, we are not merely reciting lyrics; we are declaring the truths of God’s Word, His character, and His works. Singing with the congregation and hearing the voices of fellow believers will reassure you that you are not alone, and it will strengthen your resolve to trust in God’s promises, turning your eyes to Christ and His peace.
Let Peace Make the Call
Whatever situation you might find yourself in today, you can rest in knowing that the peace of Christ is an active and alert referee in the heart of the believer. It won’t just quiet your fears; it will begin to shape your entire way of living. Pause, fix your eyes, and let it rule in your heart today.
1 “G1018 - Brabeuō - Strong’s Greek Lexicon (ESV),” Blue Letter Bible, accessed August 15, 2024, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1018/esv/mgnt/0-1/.
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