Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)

There is so much in this passage of Holy Scripture that it could probably keep us busy for an entire lifetime. Well, come to think of it, this succinct description for the life of the Christian will keep us busy for our lifetime as strangers and pilgrims in this increasingly alien and pouty postmodern culture.

Let me draw your attention to verse 15 again — And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. As we put this with verse 12, and remember we are the elect of God as the King James Version puts it, one can see why—even in this backward world—no matter what comes along, we really can have the peace of Christ.

Now maybe you have been feeling rather inconsequential lately and you’re wondering if you will be able to accomplish anything of lasting value for your Lord. Sure you can. Let’s just think for a moment about the woman at the well in John 4. At the time in sin; she was about to find repentance and forgiveness.

Our loving Lord Jesus would end up using her to bring about a revival to virtually the whole community of Sychar simply because she was willing to tell a few people about Christ! You’ll notice that God didn’t use some sort of “church leader,” or someone who might be considered “important” by others.

O no, right in keeping with His Word the Master:

God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

Do you see why it’s so important to follow God the Holy Spirit’s advice in verse 16 of the opening text and — Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly; God will always honor what He said. However, too many today are going by what they “feel” He may have—or even worse—what they think He should have said.

Today here at Apprising Ministries I encourage you to rest fully in your Lord; and to simply believe what God has clearly said in the Bible. Can you do that? Sure you can. All you need to do is keep in mind that Jesus has done it and the Christian life is one where — we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Ah, but remember, we have the promise of His loving guidance:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths… “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 28:20)

In closing, let me share something that George Mueller wrote many years ago:

The natural mind is ever prone to reason, when we ought to believe; and to be at work, when we ought to be quiet; to go on our own way, when we ought to walk on in God’s ways, however trying to nature.

And dearly beloved of God, let us also never forget that Christ Jesus, our Lord, has said — “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). So, can you trust your Heavenly Father just as a little child does his earthly parent? Sure you can.

See also:

THE SHADOW OF HIS CROSS

THE POWER OF THE CROSS

THE POWER OF THE CROSS (PART TWO)