‘And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.’ Colossians 3:15
I don’t know about you but I have never been much interested in sport. I do not follow any teams and am always at a loss when others start a conversation about cricket, soccer, rugby and (even at this Wimbledon season) tennis.
In the world of the New Testament it was athletic competitions with one winner rather than ball games or team sports that the people enjoyed. Since many of the big sporting events in those days were held in honour of pagan gods it is highly unlikely that the apostle Paul was a sports fanatic. However, he would certainly have been aware of major competitions like the four main Panhellenic Games: the Olympic, Pythian, Nemean and Isthmian Games. The latter games were held in honour of the sea-god Poseidon every two years at Corinth, a city where Paul lived for a year and a half (Acts 18:11).
Although not a fan Paul did make several allusions to sport in his letters:
APOSTLE PAUL’S REFERENCES TO ATHLETICS
1 Cor 9:24-27 speaks of the winner’s crown and the possibility of being disqualified.
2 Cor 5:10 mentions the judgement seat of Christ – bema – a raised platform on which the judges sat.
Galatians 2: 2 says; ‘lest I run or had run in vain.’
In Galatians 5:7 Paul again talks about running well (cp. Heb 12:1).
In Ephesians 6:12 he maintains: ‘we wrestle not against flesh and blood’
In Philippians 3:14 he says: ‘I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ.’
Near the end of his life Paul wrote: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.’ 2 Tim 4:7-8 (NLT)
Here in Colossians 3:15 the reference is not to competitors but to someone who moderates a sporting event – a referee or umpire .
The term ‘rule’ is the verb brabeúō which describes the activity of an umpire at the games. It means ‘to act as an umpire (brabeus)’.
Paul’s advice to the Christians at Colosse was: ‘Let the peace of God be the umpire in your hearts!’
In other words:
‘Let the peace of God call the shots in your life!
‘Let the peace of God be the umpire that settles your emotions and your decisions!
‘Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!’
How do most of us react whenever we have a bad day, when things are uncertain and everything seems to get on top of us? Often we get grumpy, irritable and upset.
In this verse the apostle Paul tells us that whenever we confront difficult situations we should let God’s peace dominate every emotion. We must choose to let God’s peace settle any detrimental thoughts and feelings that might rise up in our minds. We are not to get into an emotional frenzy. The peace that comes from God will be a guide that orders and directs our decisions, relationships and actions but order to let this peace call the shots we must acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ and follow his instructions.
Whenever we let this umpire called ‘divine peace’ control the game of life all decisions will be correct. There will be no anxiety, fretfulness or worry, and definitely no need for the spiritual equivalent of review technology like Hawk-Eye.
So, whenever overwhelmed by problems or emotions that would disturb us, we ought to stop, refocus, and let God’s peace call the shots in our hearts.
The umpire always has the final say. Does God’s peace serve as umpire in your heart, and in mine?
‘And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.’ Colossians 3:15
Written Exposition 