The Colossians 3 Shortcut to Peace

We’ve been doing a deep dive in how to secure our peace. Often, our peace is threatened by outward circumstances. I’m living proof that it’s possible to remain [standing in internal peace] in the midst of outward chaos, tragedy, and strife. In times like that, [Philippians 4 teaches us] how to focus on the Lord and regain our peace. But let’s be honest. Sometimes, our lack of peace is self-inflicted. That’s what this shortcut to peace addresses in Colossians 3.

Die To Self

Paul explains that when you gave your life to Christ, you died to your old ways. That’s what [water baptism] expresses.

Water Baptism

Going under the water is an outward expression of an inward reality… going under the water shows you died. Your old ways died. The old ways of sin and darkness. And Jesus’s blood washes away all your sins. And when you are raised in the water, it’s an outward expression that you are raised to new life in Christ.

Your old person died, and you are now hidden in Christ. (Colossians 3:3).

Your old person died, and you are now a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Reward of Peace

And because of that reality, Paul instructs us on how to retrain our minds and actions to live accordingly. And this truly is another shortcut to peace.

When we keep living in our old sin and keep up habits of darkness, we self-sabotage peace.

On the contrary, peace is our reward when we live in purity of heart and honesty and humility and compassion. Peace rules and reigns when we are fixed on Christ and living our lives like He did.

Trusting God

“He is kept at perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast on the Lord, because He trusts in Him,” (Isaiah 26:3).

[Trusting in God and keeping our minds on Him are always connected to peace.]

And when we trust God and fix our minds on Him, it’s a lot easier to die to the old sinful ways that will steal our peace from us.

The Path to Peace:

• Fix your thoughts on heavenly things. (Very similar to the instruction in Philippians 4. [More on that here.]) Focusing on Jesus and what is true and lovely will actually “guard your heart and minds in Christ Jesus,” [Philippians 4].
• Die to your selfishness including all sexual perversity and greed. And put to death anger, rage, slander, lies, and filthy talk. All these things will rob your peace.
• Live in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These things protect your peace.
• Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Forgiveness is at the crux of Christianity, and it’s the first and quickest place to start if you lack peace. [More on forgiveness here.]
• Teach, sing, and focus on God’s Word. [If you’re honest and don’t really want to read the Bible, start with this post.]
• And be thankful. [More on the power of gratitude here.]
• More than anything, love the Lord your God and love others as yourself and that covers all of the above.

And in doing this, in dying to your old ways and living in Christ and His ways, you will allow the peace of Christ to rule and reign in your hearts and minds. Forgiveness, love, and gratitude are essentially shortcuts to peace. And the more you practice using those shortcuts, the quicker and shorter the journey to peace becomes.

Colossians 3

Here’s the whole passage. I encourage you to not just take my word for it, and to dig in to this for yourself.

As you read God’s Word here, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you and to highlight what you need to hear most.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.

Colossians 3:1-17