PT-1 "Peace with God and With His People" from Eph. 2:14-17

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/5/2019 10:11 AM

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  PT-1 “Peace with God and With His People”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                             Reference:  Ephesians 2:14-17

            Message of the verses:  “14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE

NEAR;”

            We looked at Ephesians 2:13 in our last SD, and not today we begin what will probably be a rather long time in these very important verses found in Ephesians 2:14-17.

            John MacArthur begins this section with the following:  “The Greek text has only one pronoun, autos (‘He’), but it is in the emphatic position, as reflected by the addition of ‘Himself’ in many English translations.  The writer emphasizes that Jesus alone is our peace )cf. Isa. 9:6); there is no other source.  What laws, ordinances, ceremonies, sacrifices, and good deeds could bring men into harmony with God or with each other.  In the sacrifice of ‘Himself’ on the cross, Jesus accomplished both.”

            What we must look at now is sin, as even as sin is the cause of all conflict and division, it is certainly also the enemy of all peace.  I have mentioned in a few SD’s since the beginning of this year that one of my goals for this year is to memorize and meditate on Romans 12:3 which actually speaks of selfishness, and selfishness is basically divisive and disruptive.  I know people that are the most selfless people, doing things at the drop of a hat to care for others, not looking out for themselves.  I think that it may be a gift from the Lord, and others like me have to really work hard at it.  Selfishness is sin for when we look out for ourselves when we should be looking out for others it certainly does not bring about a peaceful environment. 

            Let us look at what James said about this:  “1What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2  You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures (James 4:1-3).”

            Well how then do we get peace?  Peace can only come when self dies, and there is only one place where self can die, and that is at the foot of the cross of Christ.  Paul writes the following in Galatians 2:20 “"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.’”

            I will close with a short story from the pages of John MacArthur’s commentary on Ephesians:  “During World War II a group of American soldiers was exchanging fire with some Germans who occupied a farm house.  The family who lived int eh house had run to the barn for protection.  Suddenly their little three-year-old daughter became frightened and ran out into the field between the two groups of soldiers.  When they saw the little girl, both sides immediately ceased firing until she was safe.  A little child brought peace, brief as it was, as almost nothing else could have done.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life:  I am thankful for the verses in James and also in Galatians as I believe that it is the Lord who is the One who wants me to dwell on selflessness this year and then continue to learn more about it in future years if the Lord tarries.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to continue to work in my heart to make me a more selfless person.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Jesus” (Matthew 9:12).

Today’s Bible question:  “The Holy City is referred to as the new what?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/5/2019 10:40 AM