| “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” He is our peace! What comfort it is to know that Christ is our peace. There is no need to negotiate peace between God and me; I couldn’t possibly do it anyway. The wall which divided Jew and Gentile was eliminated; the same God of the Jew is God of Gentiles as well. We don’t often think that at one time there was a great distinction between the Jew and Gentile. The Jews were the recipients of the laws of God, they received the revelation of God’s promises and circumcision was their outward sign of their special relationship with God. What about the Gentile? We were separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in this world. We who were hopeless were given hope; not by right but through the act of God’s amazing love. Our peace is not exclusively ours; it is inclusive of both Jew and Gentile. God through the sacrifice of Christ has united humanity into a body of believers who have citizenship in Israel, heirs to the covenants of the promise, having hope and having God in this world. I remember hearing the song The Solid Rock, sung in church:
In August, 2011, I felt an earthquake for the first time in my life. I didn’t even know it was an earthquake until someone said, “This feels like an earthquake.” I couldn’t believe it because I live in Virginia. I thought, when has Virginia ever had an earthquake? Nothing felt certain, my stability, my thoughts; for that moment, there was no peace. I prayed and felt peace; God’s peace comforted me! Oh, He is our peace!
Do you need peace? He’s your peace! Are you lacking peace? He’s your peace! Do you want peace? He’s your peace! Christ is, our peace! |
A Note of Thanks: I would just like to say that I appreciate each of you who visit My Thought-filled Journey. Taking time out of your schedule to read a post on this blog is encouraging to me. Many of those who visit, will from time to time leave a comment. Whether a comment is left is not important. What is important, is that you came. I do hope you find encouragement and inspiration in these words. Please know I will pray with you regarding any circumstance you may be facing. Feel free to write me to say "Hello", request prayer, or share what God is doing in your life. I have not said it enough, but thank you for the light of Chist in your life which illuminates the way for us all.
| Note: This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays (hosted by Charlotte). |  |
