Scripture: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 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. 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.”
Observation: This little section is about Christ being within and among and over all that we do as a Christian community, which forms us both as believers and as the Body of Christ together: “Let the peace of Christ rule…”, “Let the message of Christ dwell…” in our life, study, and worship together. What a people of God we could be by living Paul’s prayerful exhortation!
This sentence draws it all together. Notice the inclusive scope of Paul’s language here: “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” Paul leaves no stone unturned. He leaves us nothing to exclude when it comes to speaking, acting, living “in the name of the Lord Jesus,” which is to say, in the spirit of Jesus. The whole of our life is to be lived in a way that reflects and embodies the character, likeness, and spirit of Christ.
So we could circle back and draw the passage together with this summary: Let the peace of Christ rule, let the message of Christ dwell, and let the character and spirit of Christ permeate your life together.
This sentence from Paul reminds me of a saying from St. Teresa of Avila in her book, The Way of Perfection. This simple prayer puts his instruction about living in the name of Jesus and giving Him thanks into action in our hearts. “Praise be to God from whom comes all the good that we think and speak and do.”
Application:
What is the Holy Spirit speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Praise be to you, Lord, from whom comes all the good that I think and speak and do. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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Morning Prayer: Heavenly Father, May the peace of Christ rule over me and the message of Christ dwell within me in my life, study, and worship. Use me as your instrument to inspire others. Amen