He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. Eph. 2:17–18 (NLT)
Lord Jesus, this Scripture is centering, settling, and encouraging. By your life, death and resurrection, you’ve become the tender and tenacious Peacemaker. You ever live to preach peace to our hearts through the gospel. We praise you for being the hostility-destroying, enemy-reconciling, relationship-healing Savior.
First and foremost, we bless you for securing us in a perfect relationship with our heavenly Father. Because of your finished work, we no longer live with fear and doubt about what God thinks about us. Not only do we enjoy unbroken access to Him, we’re objects of his unceasing delight, children of his perpetual rejoicing, and targets of his constant pursuit. Even when Abba must discipline us, He does so with a heart of affection, never irritation. There’s no peace like peace with God.
Though we offer you resistance, we’re also grateful for your commitment to bring peace to a wide array of bruised and broken relationships. You’re committed to destroying all kinds of hostilities and reconciling all kinds of people—in the body of Christ and in our families, in our communities and where we work… even with our enemies. Forgive us when we choose resentment over reconciliation, nursing grudges over building bridges, and rehearsing hurts quicker than remembering the gospel.
Glorious Prince of Peace, one Day you will reconcile wolves and lambs, leopards and goats, calves and lions. Until that Day, give us the desire, humility, and power to live as a people of peace. For your glory, and by your grace, free us to live as agents of your reconciling love. Life is just too short to stay snarky and rigid, distant and mad. Melt our hearts; heal our relationships. So very Amen we pray, in your peerless and peace-full name.
