Colossians 3

Letting the Peace of Christ Rule in Our Hearts

As we look into Colossians 3, we find ourselves standing at an important crossroads in our spiritual journey. The message Paul shares here builds upon the powerful truths laid out in the earlier chapters of the letter, urging us to understand and embrace our new identity in Christ. But before we get into how we live this out, let’s pause and reflect on what Colossians 3 is really about, especially verse 15, which acts as the hinge connecting the teachings from chapters 1 and 2 to the practical outworking in our daily lives.

Setting the Context: Colossians 1 and 2

To grasp the full impact of Colossians 3, we first need to understand the foundation Paul lays in the preceding chapters. Colossians 1 exalts the supremacy of Christ, highlighting that Jesus is the head of all creation, the firstborn of the dead, and the one through whom all things hold together. It’s a powerful reminder that Christ is not just part of our story; He is the whole story. He is the reason we are reconciled to God, and He is the one who sustains our very lives.

Building on this, Colossians 2 shifts our focus to the fullness that we have in Christ. Salvation is just the beginning of what Jesus offers. Through His life, death, and resurrection, we are brought into a relationship where we are loved, valued, and given purpose. Paul tells us that in Him, we find freedom—not the freedom to sin but freedom from the burden of human rules and moral checklists. It’s the freedom to live, not because we earned it, but because God’s grace is that good.

The Peace We Long For

With this foundation set, Colossians 3 begins to outline how this new identity changes the way we live. Verse 15 captures the essence of what we’re striving for: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

It’s a beautiful verse that encapsulates both the goal and the means to achieve it. We are called to peace, and that peace is meant to rule our hearts. But what does that look like, and why do so many of us struggle to experience it?

Why We Struggle to Experience Peace

We can easily fall into two categories that hinder our experience of this peace. The first group is those who are caught in the cycle of performance. These are the individuals who regularly attend church, read their Bibles, and check off all the boxes of “Christian duties,” but they still feel an emptiness inside. They’re living with an unspoken belief that if they just do enough, God will reward them with peace, joy, and blessing. This approach falls into the trap of what we’ll call “quid pro quo Christianity”—a give-and-take relationship with God based on what we do for Him.

The problem is that this mindset puts us back under the rules Paul warned against in chapter 2. We start thinking, “If I’m good, I get rewarded. If I’m bad, I suffer the consequences.” But the Bible doesn’t teach that God’s love and peace come as a result of earning it. It comes from understanding that we are already loved, accepted, and chosen. When we focus on performance, peace becomes elusive because we’re measuring our worth by what we do instead of who God says we are.

The second group is even more passive. These are the folks who have one foot in the church and one foot in the world. They know enough about Jesus to be dangerous, but they’re not truly committed to Him. They might be living with habitual sin or prioritizing their personal desires over their relationship with God. For them, peace feels out of reach because their hearts and minds are divided. They desire the peace of Christ but aren’t willing to let go of the things that keep them from fully experiencing it.

Finding Peace Through Perspective

Paul’s advice in Colossians 3 is straightforward: Set your hearts and minds on things above. This is an active call to refocus, to prioritize what’s eternal over what’s temporary. For those striving for peace through performance, this means shifting our focus from our deeds to Christ’s completed work. It’s not about earning God’s favor; it’s about trusting that we already have it because of Jesus.

For those caught between two worlds, it means making a decision to give more space in our thoughts and lives to the things that reflect God’s truth—things that are pure, noble, and good. If we were to take a moment to evaluate our thought lives, how much time do we really spend on heavenly things versus things that only breed insecurity, fear, and doubt? This is not about striving harder; it’s about aligning our hearts and minds with the reality of who God is and what He has done for us.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Here’s the beautiful part: Peace isn’t something we need to manufacture on our own. Paul’s use of the word “let” in verse 15 indicates that this peace is something we allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate in us. It’s not a matter of earning it but receiving it. When we set our hearts and minds on things above and abide in Christ, His peace begins to rule our hearts. This peace transcends circumstances—it doesn’t depend on our health, wealth, or situation. It’s a deep, unshakeable sense that God is in control, that we are loved, and that everything will be okay because He’s sovereign.

Cultivating Peace in Our Daily Lives

So how do we practically walk this out? First, let’s revisit verses 1 and 2 of Colossians 3: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” This is an active, daily choice. We need to remind ourselves of our new identity and the perspective it brings.

Next, we need to actively put off the things that distract us or keep us from experiencing God’s peace—whether that’s excessive worry, a mindset focused on self, or indulgence in habits that don’t align with who we are in Christ.

Finally, let’s remember that the Christian life is not about earning anything but responding to the grace that has already been given to us. Our actions are not to achieve peace but to live out the peace that we’ve been called to. As we live in this way, seeking Christ’s kingdom first and trusting Him with our lives, peace will start to rule in our hearts, and gratitude will naturally flow from us.

Conclusion

Paul’s message in Colossians 3 is an invitation to step into a new way of living, where peace rules our hearts, not as a reward for our hard work, but as a gift that comes when we align our thoughts and desires with the eternal truth of who Christ is. It’s about letting go of striving for approval and stepping into the freedom that comes from knowing we are already accepted in Him. And as we do, we’ll find that our hearts are no longer restless but at peace, even in the midst of life’s challenges.

So today, let’s take an honest look at where our thoughts are focused. Are they on things above, or are we caught up in the things below? Let’s redirect our hearts and minds to the only source of true peace, trusting that as we do, the peace of Christ will rule in our hearts and overflow into every aspect of our lives.