“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”
Colossians 3:12-15 NLT
Bishop Chester Wright described peace as a pond. Perfect peace was a perfectly calm pond with still water, no ripples. The more peace you have, the less ripples are in the water.
“Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””
John 16:31-33 NLT
Jesus said, in me you MIGHT have peace, in the world you WILL have trials and sorrows, the KJV says tribulations, but it can also be translated pressures and frustrations. Why is it that you MIGHT have peace but you are for sure going to have pressure, troubles, and frustrations? I believe for the same reason Isaiah 9:6 describes Jesus as the Prince of Peace, and not the King of Peace. A prince is only potentially a king, he can only become the king if the reigning king dies or abdicates the throne.
We have the right to sit on the throne of our life, but better yet, we have the privilege of “dying” and allowing Jesus to move from prince, to King of Peace in our hearts and minds. You promises to keep us in perfect peace if our minds are stayed, relying on, leaning on you.
Back to the pond. Bishop Wright describes life handing you a stone (pressure, troubles, frustrations or cares) and you have two choices, you can throw the stone in your pond and disturb your peace, or you can cast it on Jesus.
“Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 MEV
The word cast, literally refers to throwing, like a ball. Throw them at Jesus, He can handle it, we cannot. Let Him do the caring. I always read that verse like, “Jesus cares about you,” but in this context, it is literally Jesus doing the caring for you.
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:34 AMP
Back to Colossians. After I have clothed myself properly, forgiven and reconciled, let peace rule in our hearts. It’s the peace that can only come from Jesus. As pastor preached today, it isn’t an absence of trouble, anyone who promises that is an idiot, it is Jesus with you in the midst of life’s pressures, taking the pressure off of you, carrying the load for you. It is rest in Him despite the chaos, frustrations and cares of life happening all around.
Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied to you in Jesus name,
-Jared
jareddoran 