Ephesians 2:11-14
Verse 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
For this portion of the spiritual armor we are told to put on the footwear of peace of the Gospel. Naming a piece of war wear “peace” may seem like an oxymoron but when we truly understand what Paul was saying when he was instructing his friends in Ephesus it will start to make more sense. Limiting the word to what the world says about it cheapens the word as Paul understood it.
Paul didn’t have the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to draw from to build an understanding of Jesus and His teachings. He may have heard some of Jesus’ teaching from being with the Pharisees – either because he was there in person with them to hear Jesus or because he heard them discussing His teachings as they complained about Jesus with other Pharisees – but there is no doubt Paul knew the truths of His teachings. Jesus may have taught him supernaturally or through the teachings of the disciples, the important thing is, he knew.
Paul seemed to know the specific teaching of Jesus as John told it in his gospel. The beloved disciple quoted Jesus, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) As Jesus said, His peace is different than that of the world. While the world looks for one kind of peace Jesus knows there is a better form of peace.
Paul understood what was different about the peace of Jesus, it was Him. The only true peace we can have is in Jesus. While the peace the world gives struggles to get along with people of other nations, Jesus unites us in Himself giving us peace with other members of His army though we are from various nations. The peace He gives doesn’t make sense to the world. Though the world screams for unity they can’t know it because they don’t have His peace.
As a piece of our armor we need to put on this peace of Christ. We need to be looking to Him for the definition of peace and stop listening to the world and its distorted form. Peace isn’t about everyone agreeing, that is never going to happen, nor should it. We are called to live counter culturally and that obviously doesn’t generate the world’s idea of peace.
Making It Personal
How would you define peace? Does your definition align with Jesus’ definition? How can you understand His peace on a deeper level?
Making It Personal Kids
What is peace? Is that what Jesus thinks of as peace? Where can you find peace today?
Closing Prayer
Father, we know we may have a distorted view of peace. Please help us grow in our understanding of Your peace and help us always find our peace in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.