God's Umpire

One of the joys of summertime is baseball.  Happy memories of sandlot games, or watching the big league players, belong to this time of year, and are certainly a part of my life.
   Saint Paul was also attracted to games and athletic competitions, judging from the sports metaphors that run through his letters.  As he wrote to his young protégé, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith," and referring to the ultimate in victory trophies, a crown of laurel leaves,  he continued: "henceforth is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day."  Second Epistle to Timothy Ch. 4, vs. 7, 8.
    Another sporting allusion comes in his letter to the Colossians, which we have encountered in our Great She Bible readings recently:
   "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body."  Ch. 3, vs. 15.
Games and contests often require judges or umpires to apply the rules, balance competing claims, and keep the ball moving.  In this passage, the word means literally, "Be umpire"--as in Let the peace of Christ be umpire in your hearts--Let this be the guiding determination in all your actions.
   How do you determine what is the best application of God's word to your life and circumstances?  Often there are competing claims to our attention, that appear equally compelling. What keeps us moving ahead as life swirls around us?
  Paul says here that the peace of Christ--the peace that passes understanding--is our God given guide and umpire to the right course of action.  Finding the peace of Christ in each day's activities is the will of God for you, and his body, the Church.  Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.