Deciding and Settling…

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. – Helen Keller

Verse 15 instructed me to let THE peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually). i feel like i kinda cut short the rule part of my previous post. i used the noun definition of the word rule and today i want to define the word rule as a verb.

Rule: to control or direct; exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over,  govern, to rule the empire with severity, to decide or declare judicially or authoritatively, decree.

A verb is a word of action and to rule requires some tough action. If i am to let THE peace of Christ control, direct, dominate, decide, declare and decree, then it must be over something. His, thus being mine, ideal harmony is to control, direct, dominate, influence my anger, my patience, kindness, my insistence upon my own way, my sense of entitlement. This all leads back to Paul’s instructions that i am to aim, seek, hold onto, those things which are above so that THE peace of Christ will rule.

Okay that being said verse 15 continues by stating exactly where this is to take place, “in ed’s heart.” i get that, as i have attempted to do everything Paul has shared from my mind, from the idea of faking it til i make it, as form and function and i have fallen short or failed miserably every time. Sure there appears to be some success for a time but eventually i can not sustain it. That’s why my outer collapses exist, because my inner strength cannot sustain me. It’s head knowledge, logos, not heart knowledge, rehma.

To get it to my heart requires a revelation of God’s love for me and out of that one revelation i will have a correct response. This means that i must live in constant revelations of God’s love, always growing, moving forward, maturing and replacing darkness with more light. Colossians 3 is revealing God’s love for me in new ways, moving me forward, replacing my darkness with His light.

This letting “The” peace of Christ rule does not happen in my mind but it’s in my mind that i surrender the old garments and “Put on.” The amplified Bible describes what takes place in my heart. It’s deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in my mind, in that peaceful state. It’s in my heart that my mind is put to rest with finality ALL the questions in my mind.

ed, let the peace (ideal harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your heart [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your mind, in that peaceful state].

“THE”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”  ―    Martin Luther King Jr

Back on track with Colossians 3…

Verse 15 ed, let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your heart [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your mind, in that peaceful state] to which as [a member of Christ’s] one body you ed, were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

And i begin with ed, “LET” – allow or permit. That’s pretty self-explanatory as far as i’m concerned. It is in my hands to allow or permit the following to happen.

With the next word it may be that i am being to literal but i am reading “THE” as a descriptive, precise word and not just a plain the. It’s “THE” as in God. i am fairly sure of this as i don’t think Paul would put all this effort into me and then instruct me to “Let” just “any” peace do anything in me.

That bring me to the next word which is “PEACE” – while i am tempted to do what i always do, which is to go to the dictionary to see what that word means. That doesn’t work as it’s “THE” peace as defined by God not Webster dictionary. In yesterday’s post Paul spoke about IDEAL HARMONY. This is how i think Paul was defining God’s peace. The amplified Bible defines it as ‘Soul Harmony which comes from Christ… i don’t think so! It says “Soul Harmony which comes from Christ RULE. So there’s another word to consider.

Rule – a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement.

Summary… ed allow, permit “THE” principle, conduct, actions of a life raised up with Christ… act as umpire continually. Umpire: decides or settles a controversy, dispute, or the like.

“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M’s and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.”  ―    Dave Barry