Colossians 3:15 (Amplified Bible) And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
One factor that has helped me in making major decisions in my life is the peace of God in and through a decision. His peace confirms His leading in a given situation. Some decisions require information as they are very simple, for example what to wear depends on the info you have concerning the weather that day, next year’s provision for bad debts depends to an extent on the bad debts figure for this year, or the provision for depreciation depends on the current value and method of depreciation being used etc. (For Accountants)
The challenge comes when you need to decide on matters without sufficient information. For example, we do not have info (at least the critical info) about what will happen to a potential spouse in the future. They could look ideal today, and later things change, or they could look suspect today, and things change for the better in the future. Decisions like this require not only information, but REVELATION from God. The peace of God confirms such revelation about a decision. When considering a new employee for a job, sometime we do not pick up the good CV, because we are not settled in our hearts, then we discover that the good CV had major character flaws later!
The verse above explains this concept, that the peace is harmony in the soul, that comes from Christ. An umpire is one who calls the ball in or out in a game of tennis, or cricket. They make all the calls. And this umpire settles ALL questions, including yours, that arise in your mind, in the PEACEFUL state. Over the years this has been a fundamental factor in every major decision I’ve made. I give it to you to consider this as you make your decision, for it is decision time for you! God desires the best for you, and he has given you his peace as an umpire for your major decisions.
I believe verse 16 enhances your ability to be sensitive to God’s direction:
Colossians 3:16 Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts. (Amplified Bible)
Enjoy the Season...
