I can hear you asking, “what’s an umpire got to do with Christmas?”. It isn’t even baseball season. The rush of the holidays may have you feeling exhausted and/or disappointed. I read several posts on twitter where this was being discussed. One husband said he went into the kitchen, took a look around and told his wife “we’ll just sell the house, come sit down”. I chuckled at that but it’s a very real reaction after days of having company, preparing meals and all the baking that goes into the holiday festivities.
So, why an umpire? Scripture tells us that peace should rule in our hearts like an umpire. The word “rule” used in Colossians means to act as an umpire. I don’t know a lot about sports but I know the duties of an umpire in baseball – he calls balls and strikes, he says who’s safe and who’s out.
“And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state” Colossians 3:15 Amplified
Peace will do that for us. It will call “out” those bad attitudes and unwanted stress factors as they run across our home plate. The book of Colossians identifies the things that try to “steal home”; things like unforgiveness, lack of understanding, impatience and anger.
“God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you. 14 Together with these things, the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful…17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:12-17 ERV
When we let peace control our thinking it will lead us to be thankful, kind, humble, gentle, patient and forgiving. It will fill us with joy and we will be able to carry the love of this Christmas season in our hearts.
What a great way to end the Christmas season and to start the New Year!