Peace Referee

Read:

Colossians 3:15-17 (NLT) 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. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

What is this saying to me?

Have you ever seen a baseball manager argue with an umpire? They get in each other's faces, and if it really goes south, the manager kicks dust on the umpire, which for reasons that are beyond me really gets the ump madder, and things get even worse...or better if you enjoy a little chaos with your baseball.

Have YOU ever argued with an umpire? I bet you have. I have. Now, in this case, I am not talking about a baseball umpire anymore. I am talking about the peace umpire. The word for "rule" in the Greek is the word they would use for the directors and arbiters of the Olympic games...what we would call an umpire now. Paul is describing the peace of Christ as an umpire in our lives.

So there is an umpire governing the "game" of our lives, making calls on how we should act in a situation, and evidently the overriding order of the game is one of PEACE.

Now back to my original question, do you ever fight with the umpire?

I don't always listen to the umpire. I'll feel that unsettled tug in my gut about a decision, and I'll talk myself past it anyway, usually because I've already made up my mind and I'm just looking for permission. Or something difficult occurs, and my mind immediately goes to worry, doubt, stress, anxiety, anger, and whatever else instead of...you got it, peace.

The peace of God isn't a suggestion here. Peace is the umpire. It's supposed to have the final call, no debate, no do-over. Maybe if I approached peace more like a real-life umpire (that I would NOT argue with!) I would be better off.

What is this saying to you?

- When was the last time you felt that check, that lack of peace, and pushed through anyway?

- Who in your life could you actually run a decision by before you act on it, instead of just running it by yourself?

- When something happens out of your control, do you let peace ref the situation, or do you fight with the ref?

What are we going to do about it?

Pick one decision you're sitting on right now, something you haven't pulled the trigger on yet. Before you move on it, stop and ask honestly: Is there peace here? If the answer is no or even "I'm not sure," give it 24 hours.

If something is going sideways, decide to let peace rule your heart and mind, not worry and doubt.