God has made us to live at harmony with others and to lead lives of inner peace and harmony. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, which means not only, "peace," but a right ordering of all things in our lives. Our relationships with our spouse, children, neighbors, co-workers, et.al., are intended to be ones of shalom.
Our hearts and minds should also experience God's shalom.
The problem is that, as sinful people, we do not always experience God's shalom, do we? Husbands and wives argue. Siblings squabble. Neighbors gossip. And even in our inner lives, we allow ourselves to be controlled by toxic addictions and unhealthy attitudes.
Jesus came that we might experience God's shalom.
In Ephesians 2:14, Paul writes that, "...He is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall...." In this verse, Paul writes that Christ has reconciled the world to God. We Gentiles, who were once far off from the promises of God (to Israel), have been brought near to God through Christ. We have been welcomed by grace into the covenant family of God.
If God can break down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, then he can most certainly break down the hostilities that exist in our households and in all of our relationships. Indeed, Christ can also break down the inner hostilities of our lives.
Christ has come that we might find God's peace -- or shalom -- in our lives. May you experience the peace that Christ came to bring. May it cover all of your relationships and even the inner corners of your life.
True peace in life comes only through a knowledge of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
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