Be Vigilant about Peace

Ephesians 2:14-16 says,

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 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, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. (NIV)

The Lord has been showing me a lot about peace lately. In this text, Paul (the writer, an apostle of God sent to proclaim the Gospel), is referring to the hostility between Jews and Gentiles (Non-Jews). It’s such a powerful illustration of what Christ’s purpose is in the Earth. When he came to die for us, He came to save all of us and to get us freedom. Verse 15 says, He came to create one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace. He, being our peace, came down and destroyed the hostility between us so that we may serve Him loyally and without distraction.

This is something I feel we must remember today. I look around at the body of Christ, myself included, and realize that we have been distracted. The enemy has come in and taken disagreements and differences and turned it into outright division. The enemy will try to use our differences to create offenses and then distance.

I heard Pastor Vasquez, say it like this, “Disagreement is not a license to divide”.

Let’s look back at the text. It says, He put to death their hostility. What hostility needs to be put to death in your life today? This is not just a social issue like racism, this is in our day to day, personal relationships. Who have you harbored hostility for that you have not vigilantly pursued peace?

Where are the places where hostility has been accepted, praised, or even protected in your life? Where you feel it’s justified? Bring it to Jesus now, and ask what do I need to do to pursue peace?

This may look like a hard conversation, a big step of faith, and a swallowing of pride. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” You may not be able to control everything, but you do your best and let Jesus handle the rest. Remember God can do the impossible, so let us let God be the judge of every situation.

The True Offender

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) says,

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Remember that our fight in not against flesh and blood, meaning the people around us, but the devil and his demons. None of the fighting we should be doing should be against one another. This is not to say that offenses and problems do not arise, but it is a call to be vigilant about pursuing peace even in the midst of it. The danger is letting it linger and become a a greater truth than the word of God. We should be declaring the word of God in the face of any issue. Peace. (2 Corinthians 13:11). Unity (1 Peter 3:8). Forgiveness (Colossians 3:13-15). Freedom (Psalms 118:5). Love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). We should be speaking life over every situation, every person, not agreeing with evil nor condemning people to their sin.

The enemy KNOWS the power of a unified body of Christ. He knows the power of forgiveness. He knows that if you two, or three or whoever get together there’s more hell for him to deal with. He knows that you together is way more powerful than He could ever deal with so He tries to divide. Ask yourself next time you feel divided or offended what the enemy is trying to destroy here?

Come Together

Matthew 18:19-20 says,

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Agree on peace. When we as believers get together, hell gets nervous. Do you know the power that you and your brother or sister hold? I challenge you to pray together, stand firm and fight for peace and unity between you.

The division is a distraction. There is a war going on in our world right now, a spiritual war for souls. Do not let the enemy deceive you in thinking the enemy is your brother.

Fight for peace because Jesus is passionate about peace. If Jesus is passionate about it, it is serious to Him, so we should be seeking it out vigorously.

1 John 4:7-11, says “Anyone who does not love, does not know God because God is love. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

I looked back at 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (the love verses) and I found a couple of ways I had fallen short lately. Sometimes as believers we hold each other to such a higher standard that we forget that they are also human. Forgive. Love. Fight Together.

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Jesus, forgive me for where I haven’t pursued love in my life, where I have allowed the enemy to deceive and play in my relationships. You are love, and if I do not love I am not with you. Convict us of the places where we have not done all the work that could be done to pursue true peace. Help us value peace as much as you do. Renew our vigilance for peace and our passion for love that we may be unified in your work. We love you, in Jesus name, Amen!