Are you looking for peace? Do you want to belong? Would you like to be part of an organization or group of people who appreciate you and welcome you in? How welcoming are you? Are you open to changing your outlook?
We all want to feel as though we belong. We seek approval. We want to feel welcomed and appreciated. We don’t want to change. We want to be accepted for who we are, no matter what that may look like.
We are inundated with messages to be who we are or who we want to be, often with subtle negative connotations. The implication is that we can be bull headed, stubborn, and resistant to others. We are encouraged to buck society, but not in an effort to improve society.
In complete contradiction to the messages we see and hear today, Paul tells the church in Colossae to be filled with the message of Christ. He tells them to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts. Notice that he gives them a message of conformity. Not to conform to the negative attitudes of their culture, but through encouragement, gratitude, and deed in the name of Christ.
In other words, Paul is encouraging the church to be different than society in a very good way. They are to act as one and do so through music. The songs of God are to reign within them and be their encouragement. Have you ever had negative thoughts while humming a hymn? I think not. When the music of God is coursing through your heart and mind, your focus is on Him. He wraps up his message encouraging the church to speak and act in the name of Christ while giving thanks to God.
I pray we all seek to change for the better. I pray we let the peace of Christ rule our hearts. I pray we allow the music of God to encourage us in our daily lives. Seek positive change. Seek the peace of Christ. Be thankful at all times. Sing of God. Speak as Jesus would. Do all things in Jesus’ name.
Colossians 3:15-17 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.
Marty Pressey 