The apostle Paul teaches that we should pray, request and intercede with everyone and with those who govern us to allow us to live in quietness and holiness in all godliness and holiness.
1 Timothy 2: 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Paul does not say to demand that it is our right to live in peace and quietness he said to be persistent in making requests, to pray, and to intercede with everyone and those in authority to allow us to live in peace and quietness in all godliness and holiness.
When we do this then it pleases God because unbelievers and those in authority who see believers’ peacefulness, quietness, godliness and holiness will see Christ in us and may seek the hope we have in God’s truth and be saved.
How well do you think Christians do this with unbelievers and with our governing authority? Do you think they see our peacefulness, quietness, godliness, and holiness or see Christians demanding what they think is their God given rights? Do you think they see the peace of Christ when we demand this?
Paul teaches in Colossians 3 the peace of Christ must rule in the heart of his church.
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.
Everyone in church need to have a united heart that is ruled by the peace of Christ so that we are at peace with each other and thankful to Jesus for giving us his peace with his Father.
Paul teaches what we must do to be ruled by the peace of Christ.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
For the peace of Christ to rule in our heart we must be a disciple of Jesus’ and his apostles’ teachings and commandments and make it dwells richly in us so that we are able to teach and correct one another in its wisdom. You do this by constantly being in the word of God, meditating on it and studying it. Let me encourage you to write a New Testament teaching not to memorize it but write done what the Holy Spirit recalls to you from God’s word to understand it with the mind of Christ which will richly dwell in you. This will make us thankful as one body in the peace of Christ and acknowledge his truth when we sing our psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to him.
Colossians 3: 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
When Christ peace reigns in you, you will speak and do all thing thankfully in his name out of love for God. This is the hope the world should see in us and draw those who God is calling to him and ask us of this hope we have.
Paul teaches that Christ peace is found in a Godly marriage.
Colossians 3: 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
The peace of Christ reigns in marriages when wives submit to their husbands the way it pleases the Lord and Godly husbands love their wives as themselves, washing them in the word of God which is to love one’s wife in the way it pleases Christ and to respect them as their weaker partner in their eternal inheritance. Christ peace in marriage is found only when Jesus is Lord in that marriage.
Paul teaches how believing children find Christ peace.
Colossians 3: 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Children in Christ find his peace when they honor their Godly parents by obeying them in everything because they know this pleases the Lord.
Paul teaches what parents should not do to their children that will not bring Christ peace in their home.
Colossians 3: 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Fathers and mothers should not make their children resentful or bitter towards them causing them to become discouraged that leads to rebellion, low self-esteem and depression which drives Christ peace from their family.
Paul teaches what we should do to show the peace of Christ with those who have authority over us.
Colossians 3: 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
This is applicable when we work for someone. The peace of Christ comes to those who work for the Lord first being sincerely grateful for the job God gave them and for the opportunity to serve him out of love for thankful for the reward of their eternal inheritance they do not deserve.
Colossians 3: 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
The peace of Christ is in knowing that God is a just God that has no favoritism that all who do wrong will be repaid by God no matter who they think they are.
So, let us find the peace of Christ by following the teachings of Paul in all aspects of our lives.
Let Christ peace reign, your brother in Christ, Glenn