Let Peace Win Today

Hey, carpool crew. I'm Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here. We spent the whole week talking about peace, what it means, how Jesus gives it, and how it changes the way we live. Today, we're gonna be wrapping up the week with this simple truth. Peace wins. That might sound strange. Maybe it doesn't make any sense yet, because most of the time people think that winning means, well, being louder or faster, tougher, or stronger. But Jesus taught something completely different. When you let peace lead, you actually win in the way that matters most. Here's a verse from Colossians chapter three, verse 15. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. So this was Paul. He wrote to the church of Colossae, and it's one of the letters in the New Testament, and he wrote a bunch of different letters, and this one is called Colossians. The word rule means to take charge, like a referee in a game who decides what's fair and what's not. Paul is saying, let peace be the referee in your heart. You know, when you're playing four square, or maybe football or soccer out on the recess field, well, sometimes if there's not a referee, there's really no rules, right? And that can be pretty frustrating. When there's a referee, they can say, well, hey, this is right, this is wrong, this is against the rules, this is a foul. This is what peace should be for us, a referee in your heart. Before you yell, argue, or react, let peace blow the whistle and help you make the right call. Let peace lead, not anger. When you follow my peace, you'll always end up where you should be, because peace doesn't mean you're weak. It means you're wise. So let's say your brother takes the last pancake, or your sister, and you feel that spark of frustration rising. Your hands clench a little bit. Your words are ready, but instead of snapping, you take a breath. You let peace rule your heart. You might even say, it's okay, you can have it, or you might just get up and just take a break, leave the room for a second, because that is peaceful. Guess what? You just won. Not because you got the pancake, but because you chose peace instead of fighting. That's what Jesus does in us. He gives us the power to choose peace even when it's hard. So today, before you answer someone in frustration, pause, take a breath, let Jesus's peace take the lead, because when peace leads, everyone wins. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And before you go, talk about this together. What's one way this week you can choose peace instead of fighting? I'll see you tomorrow on carpooling with Jesus.