The Advent Adventure- 13 Days to Christmas: Peace Reconciles Relationships
“For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”
Ephesians 2:14 (NLT)
There’s nothing quite like the holidays that force us to confront our own relationship issues, is there? It’s the time of the year that families connect, and sometimes those connections create sparks. Unresolved conflicts we stuffed down the rest of the year suddenly come to the surface, robbing us of peace. But rather than dreading those reunions, why not lay hold of the peace that Jesus came to bring us? Relationships can be reconciled. There’s hope! But how? How can we get along when there seems to be a wall of hostility between us? This is one of the great adventures of Advent! Hope leads to peace when we put our faith in Christ!
What seems like irreconcilable differences can find resolution in the One who is our peace. In Ephesians 2:14 (NLT), the Bible says, “For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.” No two groups of people could have had greater differences than Jews and Gentiles in Paul’s day when he wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus. The church was experiencing rapid growth among both groups. But neither got along with the other! It was like oil and water. Instead of singing “I’m So Glad You’re a Part of the Body of Christ,” they were singing, “I’m SURPRISED, You’re a Part of the Body of Christ.” What a divide! Only a miracle could reconcile the two, and that miracle was Advent! Paul tells them three important truths that would unite them into one body.
In verse 14, he tells them, “Jesus Christ is our peace.” (NIV)
In verse 15, he says, “Jesus Christ made peace.” (NLT)
In verse 17, he writes, “Jesus Christ preached peace.” (NIV)
The peace that Jesus came to bring us unites us by breaking down the wall of hostility that separates us. That’s grace! It’s the grace that brings forgiveness into our lives and enables us to forgive others. The truth is we are all broken. We are all sinners in need of the Savior. When we recognize how much He has forgiven us, we are then able to forgive those who have offended us.
The ground at the cross is level! Jesus’ death breaks down those barriers that divide us! Because those walls have been removed, we can experience unity even with people who are not like us. He put to death our hostility against each other so that we can both have access to our Heavenly Father. And the Holy Spirit will help us look beyond those barriers to the unity we are called to enjoy so that we can live in peace with one another.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.