Daily Devotion – June 24, 2020 – Steve Trandem
Colossians 3:15
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
I once read that the reference to “rule in your heart” literally means that the peace of Christ is like a referee in our hearts and minds. When we begin to destroy the peace…the faith, hope and love…in us, given as gifts, the Spirit “blows the whistle.”
When a referee blows a whistle in a game, the action stops. The clock stops. Everyone waits to see what will happen next.
Lately the “Ref” has been whistling me a lot. I’ve been whistled for complaining, instead of intentionally looking for something for which to be thankful.
I’ve been whistled for being critical, especially when my wife and I are watching TV, choosing to make comments about someone’s looks, clothing, grammar or pronunciation. Oh, I might be “right” about my observations. But it gets tiresome for my wife and keeps me in a negative frame of mind, certainly not thankful. As in driving a car, I can choose to be “dead right.”
I agree with Garfield. I don’t think many of us would appreciate being around someone like Jon, who is kind of clueless. The “Ref” encourages us to choose to be authentic, thankful children of God, not Pollyanna, turning people off.
O God, who chooses to delight in us, keep your Ref blowing the whistle in our lives so that we might take the time to choose to be positive and thankful.
Steve Trandem
Cartoon: Garfield copyright 2020 Paws, Inc. Reprinted with permission of ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION. All rights reserved.
