The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

"Let the peace of Christ control your hearts..." who is controlling your heart? Join Pastor Moldstad today as we discuss the Fruit of Peace in our Fruits of the Spirit series.

Colossians 3:15, Luke 2:14

I’m so glad that the recent mid-term elections are finally over. Seems that there is such infighting and discord when it comes to politics in our country. And in some ways it’s a little bit ironic isn’t it? We think about our own nation that we’re not in any major war with any other country at this time. And yet there can be such conflict among our own people over politics.

Yes how nice it is to have a little reprieve a little break from all of that fighting. For us as Christians we know that peace is listed as one of the fruit of the Spirit, that God wants us to know peace and to live in peace with each other. How do we do that? Colossians Chapter 3 verse 15 it says this:

Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, to which you are also called in one body. (Colossians 3:15)

Encourages us to have Christ’s peace control us. To motivate us to move us to live in peace with each other. What sort of peace is that? You remember the very familiar Christmas story as the angels declare the good news of the Savior’s birth to the shepherds. What do the scriptures say?

Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14)

What is that peace on Earth that the angels were talking about? It doesn’t seem that Christ came to bring about peace between nations or even peace among his own people rather just more conflict.

The peace that the angels were talking about is the peace between God and men. That God in Christ would reconcile men to himself to pay for their sins, to suffer the punishment that we rightfully deserved on account of what we had done wrong.

God also wants us to live in this peace when it comes our fellow men. When is the last time that you hurt someone that you love? You remember what it felt like when they finally forgave you? Didn’t it bring a sense of relief, peace, maybe even motivate the way that you interacted with others to live in that peace.

That’s the way God wants it to be for us. Realizing the peace that he has brought in Christ, peace between us and God, may that motivate us to also live in peace with our fellow man. People that we don’t always agree with. Even when it comes to politics but we can live in peace with them knowing God’s peace for us in Christ. Amen.

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“Let the peace of Christ control your hearts…” who is controlling your heart? Join Pastor Moldstad today as we discuss the Fruit of Peace in our Fruits of the Spirit series.

Matthew Moldstad
Matthew Moldstad

Pastor Matthew Moldstad currently serves at Peace Lutheran Church in North Mankato, Minnesota. http://peacemankato.com/

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