The Umpire in Your Heart

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

I often use commentaries by William Barclay to prepare my lessons and sermons. Barclay pointed out that the Greek word translated as “rule” was the word used for a person at an athletic event who settled disputes when they arose. Barclay said it was quite appropriate to translate this verse as: Let the peace of Christ be the umpire in your heart. The Apostle Paul addressed a problem that every follower of Christ must face. There are times in our lives when we face decisions about what to do or what not to do. Sports officials must decide whether player actions violated a rule or not. Off the field or court, we have to make difficult decisions, that may be upsetting.

What did Paul mean by the “peace of Christ? The word used for peace here was used more for peace of mind than the absence of international warfare. So, Paul was saying that Christ can provide peace of mind in difficult times if we let Him be the “umpire in our hearts.” We can look to the teachings of Jesus and use His life as a model for our lives to get His rulings on our life situations. When that happens, we can have peace of mind even when situations aren’t particularly pleasant. Paul finished this verse by reminding the Colossians of two things: they needed to be unified with each other, and they needed to be thankful.

Let’s move back to the world of officiating. I hope you feel united with other officials and not treat them as competitors for good assignments. I also hope that you are thankful for opportunity to be a part of the wonderful world of officiating. Most of all, I hope that you are allowing Christ to be the umpire in your heart.

Dr. Ralph Swearngin – Georgia High School Association Executive Director (1992-2014)