"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation....
The context is that Jesus, "Himself is our peace," the peace between Jew and Gentile. But we can also say that there can be no such peace in any relationship, e.g., husband and wife, brother and sister, neighbors, nations without Jesus, "....Himself...our peace...." Peace is not the absence of fighting or wars, "For He Himself is our peace...." Whatever looks like peace apart from Jesus Christ is a delusion.
But for the "personal" application of our text, I remind you today that our Lord Jesus does not stand on some remote place in the Universe and throw "peace" at us, "For He Himself is our peace...." I read this glorious truth every quarter, and continually thank our God for it/Him. I do not want to attempt to think what existence here would be without the truth of our text.
When I hear of someone going through a very difficult time, I often pray that the Holy Spirit remind them continually of our text, Jesus, "....Himself is our peace." Notice that it is not a "prayer" when Paul says to the Philippians, "Be anxious for nothing....And the peace of God...WILL guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Our text today is not something we have to ask for. It is the reality for all in whom Jesus Christ lives.
So many times people ask and beg God for that which is already theirs in Jesus Christ. If we pray for anything in this regard, it should be that we have written in our hearts and minds the glorious reality of all that is ours in Jesus Christ.
Father, in Jesus' Name, may I never insult You by asking for that which is already mine in and through the Cross of Jesus. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
