COLOSSIANS 3:15

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

To Ponder:

There is a striking image in this reading: it tells us to let Christ's peace rule in our hearts. The word suggests a referee making the final call, a king sitting on a throne, a governor directing affairs. Christ's peace isn't meant to be an occasional visitor to our hearts—it's meant to reign there.

This is the peace that Christmas ushered into the world.

When Christ was born in Bethlehem, heaven's peace broke into earth's chaos. The Prince of Peace arrived to reconcile us to God and to one another. He came to establish a kingdom where peace doesn't just exist—it governs. It directs our decisions, settles our disputes, calms our anxieties, and shapes how we relate to others.

Notice the connection between Christ's peace to our life together. We were called to peace as members of one body. The peace of Christmas isn't just personal tranquillity; it's the harmony and unity Christ creates among his people. When his peace rules in our hearts, it transforms our relationships, our churches, our families, and our communities.

And there is one more thing: "be thankful." Gratitude and peace are inseparable. When we recognize all that Christ has done for us—coming as a baby, living a perfect life, dying for our sins, rising in victory—thanksgiving naturally flows, and his peace settles deeper in our hearts.

This Christmas, let Christ's peace take its rightful place on the throne of your heart.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing your peace into our world and into our hearts. Help your peace to rule in us this Christmas—guiding our thoughts, calming our worries, and shaping how we love others. Fill us with gratitude for all you've done. In Your name, Amen.

Today’s Devotion is written by Pr Nich Kitchen, LifeWay Epping