Pause

Peace, even just a few moments of being truly at ease, seems very, very hard to come by sometimes. There are just too many options for doing something "right now!" Slowing down becomes a luxury.

So...what to do? How to be? What next?

Peace, just a few moments of being truly at ease, could be there for you now, in a few moments within the heartbeat of God.

Listen

For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.

Ephesians 2:14-16

Think

Sides of the lunch room. Corners of the office. Competing worship styles. Circles of friends. Fractured denominations. Even in the midst of God’s people, there seems to be so much that divides us.

Yet Christ’s cross has taken a wrecking ball to that divide, busting it down with a cosmic love that extends to remove all divisions and divisiveness, to move us beyond tolerance to respect, and beyond respect into love.

The writer of this letter to the Christ-followers in the town of Ephesus reminds them that Christ has “reconcile[d] both groups to God in one body.” It’s not us-versus-them, because both sides need reconciling to God. And through Christ, we can bring peace in the midst of division. It doesn’t matter what group you’re in. You need it just as badly as the rest.

John Woods

Pray

Reconciling Christ, who tore down the wall of sin that separated creation from Creator, help me to be a peacemaker, so that through you I might bring hope to the fighting and stillness in turmoil. Amen.

Go

Go in peace
With Christ now at your side.
Go with a sense of ease
That only Christ provides.
Go to share the calm within.
Peace.
Peace again.