Stewards of the Reign of Peace By R. Scott Rodin

What does the “Reign of Peace” mean to you?

As you read these first few words of this blog, something is ruling in your heart. Right now, something has a hold of you, and its reign is dominating your thoughts, emotions, and attitude. What has dominion in your heart at this moment?

How about when you wake up in the early morning hours as the day begins? What floods your mind, occupies your heart, and stirs your emotions?

THE BATTLE

There is a relentless battle being waged for the lordship of our hearts. The spirits of Christian leaders are a strategic target for the enemy driven to instill fear and induce failure. Can you name the weapons being targeted at you in this conflict? Here’s a short list of mine: preserving identity, trying to control time, seeking security in money, self-reliance, discouragement, reliving past failures… and so on.

THE PROMISE

We are (or should be) living in the warm afterglow of Easter. We felt God’s love and grace poured out as we sang ‘Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Hallelujah’. Easter is the explosion of peace in a broken and brokenhearted world. But that was over a week ago. In the 1965 movie The Greatest Story Ever Told, Nicodemus comes to the empty tomb on Easter morning. After looking in, he proclaims, “Now it all begins.” The question for us is, “Does it?” For you? Every day?

Paul exhorts the church in Colossae,

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

~ Colossians 3:15

Rule. Have dominion. Order over. Dominate every other thought, feeling, and attitude. That is God’s intention for you.

Jesus ups the ante,

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”

~ John 14:27

WHAT YOU BELIEVE

The 2024 Outcomes Conference theme was, ‘Therefore…’ It is a fitting reminder that everything we do in response to that challenge wholly depends on whether we truly believe what came before it. Preceding every ‘therefore’ is a promise, a claim, or a proclamation of truth. Too often, as leaders, we feel the weight of all the work indicated by ‘therefore,’ and we take it on without the transforming power promised to us in words before it.

CLAIM THE PROMISE

Left to ourselves, everything else but peace will rule in our hearts. If the peace of Christ does not rule in your heart, every ‘therefore’ will be a burden whose weight will ultimately wear you down. The enemy wants to pile on you a relentless list of ‘therefores’. Claim all that is promised you in scripture that will make the work that follows a work of genuine worship and joy.

STEWARD THE REIGN OF PEACE

This means we need to be stewards of the reign of peace in our hearts. God’s reign of peace is not something we earn, produce, or conjure up in our power. It is wholly a gift from God. All we can do is accept it with thanksgiving and steward it faithfully. Our stewardship comes through our surrender, obedience, and trust in God. It comes from a simple faith in all God has done and will do in us and through us if we yield.

Our world desperately needs leaders who are stewarding the reign of peace in their hearts – leaders who live out the Proverb,

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” 

~ Proverbs 3:5-6

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R. Scott Rodin is the Senior Consultant/Chief Strategy Officer for The Focus Group. Over the past thirty-eight years, Scott Rodin has helped hundreds of organizations improve their effectiveness in leadership, fund development, strategic planning, and board development. His books and articles have been translated into over twenty languages, and he has taught and consulted with ministries across five continents. He also serves as a Senior Fellow of the Association of Biblical Higher Education and as board chair for ChinaSource.

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