do you have the peace of GOD?...

colossians 3.15 (niv), let the peace of CHRIST rule in your hearts. look at the word rule.

the word in greek is the same word as we get the word "umpire". that means somebody who calls the shots, who keeps you in boundaries, a referee, somebody who keeps the game going and keeps it in focus.

he's saying, "let the peace of GOD umpire your heart." when you have peace with GOD then you get the peace of GOD. and when you have the peace of GOD then you can have peace with other people. that's the order. you let the peace of GOD rule in your heart.

now this is the missing peace that a lot of you are missing in your life. you say, "i tried a lot of stuff to find peace of mind. i tried making it, the acquisition trip, and got all the things, but i still was unhappy. i tried fame, sex, drugs, going to disney world – all the different things but still don't have peace." the missing peace is CHRIST. HE created a GOD shaped vacuum in your life. and only HE can fill that vacuum.

i meet a lot of people who think they have peace with GOD, but really all they have is a cease-fire. they have a truce. and there's a big difference.

they say, "GOD, you stay on your side of the fence and i'll stay on my side of the fence and never the twain shall meet. you stay up there in heaven and do the thing with the angels and let me run my own life. if YOU won't bother me i won't bother YOU."

that's no peace with GOD, folks. that's a truce. and it's not going to last.

the bible says that until you invite CHRIST into your life and let HIM fill you with HIS peace you're at war with GOD. because you want to do your own thing, be your own boss, call your own shots.

GOD says, "how can we ever be at peace if you're totally ignoring the purpose for which I made you?" you're not here by accident; GOD made you for a purpose. peace comes when you find your niche in life, when you find your purpose, when you meet GOD and you have a relationship. i'm not talking about religion, i'm talking about relationship. then, when you have that peace in your heart, you can be at peace with others.

just a thought from the front porch…