Let the Peace of Christ Rule: What It Means to Let Peace Be the Umpire
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." — Colossians 3:15 (ESV)
Out of this entire verse, the word "rule" is the one that stood out to me. It's a fascinating word when you study its meaning. In the original Greek, it conveys the idea of an umpire — someone who settles disputes and makes the final call. Paul isn't saying peace is merely a pleasant feeling. He's saying peace should be the deciding voice in your heart. When you're conflicted, anxious, or at odds with someone, let the peace of Christ make the call.
But what is this peace that's supposed to rule? It's more than just calmness. It's deeper and more profound. The peace of Christ is rooted in what He has already secured — our salvation, our standing before God, and the wholeness that comes from belonging to Him. It's the peace Jesus gave His disciples in the Upper Room before His departure. Isaiah calls Him the Prince of Peace. The Hebrew word shalom captures it best: wholeness, completeness, security, and contentment. This is the peace that surpasses all understanding — not because it ignores hard circumstances, but because it holds firm in the midst of them.
And that's the peace Paul says should rule our hearts and serve as the umpire over everything — our thoughts, our decisions, and our relationships. Let's park on that last one for a minute. Paul doesn't write this to individuals in isolation. When he says "in one body," he implies that our peace is meant to govern how we relate to one another. When tensions rise among believers, peace should have the final word. That doesn't mean you surrender your convictions or pretend that disagreements don't exist. It means you choose a course that honors the relationship and trusts God to be the judge.
Then Paul lands on two words that are easy to rush past: be thankful. That's not a throwaway ending. Gratitude is what keeps the umpire honest. When we are thankful — genuinely and consistently for what God has done and is doing — it becomes much harder for anxiety, bitterness, or conflict to take root. Thankfulness toward God produces compassion and grace toward others. It's what makes it possible to keep choosing peace — even when it's hard.
Big Idea
The peace of Christ isn't about comfort or calm — it's a deciding voice, an umpire. Let it make the final call in your heart, your mind, and your relationships.
Questions to Ponder
Did today's devotional change your understanding of the peace of Christ? How? Have you been treating peace as a feeling to chase rather than a voice to follow? If peace is the umpire, where in your life have you been ignoring the call — in your thought life, in a decision you're avoiding, or in a relationship that needs attention? What would it look like to let peace make the call instead of fear, pride, or control? And when it comes to gratitude — are you genuinely thankful for what God has done and is doing? If not, how might that be affecting the way you see and relate to the people around you?
Application
This week, pick one area where you've been ignoring the umpire — a thought pattern, a decision, or a relationship. Before you react, strategize, or avoid, stop and ask: if peace were making this decision instead of me, what would it decide? And if peace feels hard to hear, check your gratitude. Take five minutes with the Lord and thank Him — specifically and honestly — for what He has done and is doing. Gratitude has a way of quieting the noise so the umpire can make the call. Let peace decide. Then follow its lead.
Before the Lord — a daily devotional by Blake S. Crawford. Read more and subscribe free at blakescrawford.com/before-the-lord.