Colossians 2:20-3:17; Ezekiel 29-30; Isaiah 55

“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:14-15 NKJV) 

The third chapter of Colossians is a beautiful chapter of how to live. It speaks of getting rid of those behaviors and attitudes that separate us from God. It commends to us behaviors and attitudes that will signify that we’ve put on the new man of God. Paul sums up that teaching by reminding us to “put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” The word for “love” here isn’t the sexual love celebrated by our world, nor is it the love of friends; it is the love of God. It is the self-sacrificing love that He showed when Jesus went to the cross. It is the love that brings grace and forgiveness for any and all sins. When we experience and exhibit this love, then we’re able to let the peace of God rule in our hearts no matter what the situation may be.

When Jesus talked about how people would know HIs disciples, He said that it would be by our love for one another. We get God’s peace when we love with God’s love because we stop worrying about judging others, letting God take care of that, and learn to love people in spite of their sins. When we’re trying to make sure that people are living right and get judgy on other Christians and people in the world, we don’t have peace because our goal is to find something wrong with other people. God’s love conquers that by allowing us to show them love, grace, and forgiveness without worrying about their sins. Let’s learn to love others with God’s love. That’s the only kind of love that really wins.

Lord, help me to love others with the same love that You have for me. Let me experience Your peace in the midst of the world’s turmoil because I’m enveloped in Your love.