Peace

DEVOTION
EPHESIANS
PEACE

Eph 2:14-17
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. NIV
It is such an amazing thing to have peace. Christ is my peace. What a turmoil life could be if it were not for his peace which resides within me. To be content and at peace with myself is a wonderful thing. Although Paul is talking about Jews and Gentiles I also see the two sides which reside within me, that which desires to so the things of God and that which desires to do the things of me. The war which has waged on within me over the years and may well wage on until I reach the end of my time here on earth could really divide me and cause hostility within my own self. But that is not the case. Christ as abolished the law and the regulations which condemns those desires and actions of my own self. He has created in himself one man, one of me out of the two of me and thus has created a peace within me. He has reconciled that part of me which desires to satisfy self with the part of me which desires to do what pleases him. Although they still both exist I do think because of Christ I do not need to be at war within myself. I can be at peace even in those times when I fail, or the older self has a little power over the newer self. Am I saddened by those times, sure, but still at peace because I know Christ and he put to death that hostility within me. Guilt, shame and hostility are from the enemy of my soul. Forgiveness and peace are from my Lord. So even though there may be war there and peace. That is an amazing thing.