Love, Grace and Peace to You
Love, Grace and Peace to You
The number one longing for every human being is to have peace. We long for peace in our hearts, in our families, in our communities, our nations. The rich and famous will pay anything for peace of mind and likewise the very poor. There is no set price for peace except for whatever it will cost.
How do you get true peace? There is fake peace. All of life is lived from infancy to the grave seeking peace. There are no exceptions in the pursuit of peace for all humans. As we conclude our study of Ephesians, Apostle Paul offers and prays for peace to all. In essence, he is saying, the whole letter I wrote you comes down to only one thing, that you may have peace. Listen to Paul:
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Ephesians 6: 23-24
Still how do we get peace? Read all of the letter of Paul to the Ephesians but let’s summarize as Paul did. The object we seek is peace. We all agree. What is peace and how do we know we have true peace? Peace is not the absence of trouble/storm. Peace is the certainty and calmness in the midst of the storms of life. Peace is knowing that if I died today, I will instantly be with Jesus forever. Peace is a person and that person is Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father. The God-head must be present for any peace to exist.
He will grant you perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. In this world you will have troubles, in me you will have peace, be of good cheer for I have overcome said Jesus. Jesus is the prince of peace.
Going back to Paul’s prayer and wish, notice the key for peace. Peace originates and reaches a human heart from and because of God’s love. It is conveyed by the grace of God through Jesus Christ as we put our faith in Him. It is that simple but profound.
God extended his grace to us. “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). Ephesians 2:5
There is no other plan and avenue for peace except thru the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Jesus has paid the ultimate price for our permanent peace.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer is the peace that transcends all understanding. It does not matter what is going on; a child of God (one who has put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ) must have peace. Hence Paul writes “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:6-7.
I have peace. Do you? My parents prophetically named me “Udochukwu” without knowing that God was going to make it a reality in my life. Udochukwu in the Ibo language means peace (Udo) of God (Chukwu) or God’s peace. I love my first name peace. It even gets better. By special grace of God, I am married to Udo, my precious wife. We are Udo3 with the Holy Spirit. Yes, we have storms like everyone else but we have peace.
Like Paul, I offer you peace today regardless of what is going on in your life. Do you have Jesus Christ and the life of His Holy Spirit in your life? If not believe and trust in Him today. We have all sinned and there is no peace in the whole world now and forever without being reconciled to God. We have been enemies of God from the beginning hence we must make peace with God. Please make peace with God today. “Blessed (happy) are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” Matthew 5:9. Are you a son (daughter) of God? Peacemakers are those who have made peace with God -Reconciled.
We must also and therefore be peacemakers if we have received true peace. We must be peacemakers in our families, the Church and the rest of the world. We are extenders of God’s peace we have received. Wherever we are, there must be peace because the Prince of Peace lives in us. Are you a peacemaker? Not a peace keeper though sometimes necessary as our military help us in peace keeping. You can only maintain an existing peace. No peace, no maintenance or peace keeping.
Thank you for journeying with me through the study of Ephesians. I have been transformed by the grace of God and still being transformed by this gospel of grace. I am humbled by God’s grace and love. Thank you my Lord and my Savior for your peace.
Friend, receive peace and give peace to all. Give Jesus Christ to all. You don’t have any other useful offer to people. Extend grace and forgiveness to all as you have received. May the Lord’s peace, grace and love be with us forever. Amen.
The number one longing for every human being is to have peace. We long for peace in our hearts, in our families, in our communities, our nations. The rich and famous will pay anything for peace of mind and likewise the very poor. There is no set price for peace except for whatever it will cost.
How do you get true peace? There is fake peace. All of life is lived from infancy to the grave seeking peace. There are no exceptions in the pursuit of peace for all humans. As we conclude our study of Ephesians, Apostle Paul offers and prays for peace to all. In essence, he is saying, the whole letter I wrote you comes down to only one thing, that you may have peace. Listen to Paul:
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Ephesians 6: 23-24
Still how do we get peace? Read all of the letter of Paul to the Ephesians but let’s summarize as Paul did. The object we seek is peace. We all agree. What is peace and how do we know we have true peace? Peace is not the absence of trouble/storm. Peace is the certainty and calmness in the midst of the storms of life. Peace is knowing that if I died today, I will instantly be with Jesus forever. Peace is a person and that person is Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father. The God-head must be present for any peace to exist.
He will grant you perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. In this world you will have troubles, in me you will have peace, be of good cheer for I have overcome said Jesus. Jesus is the prince of peace.
Going back to Paul’s prayer and wish, notice the key for peace. Peace originates and reaches a human heart from and because of God’s love. It is conveyed by the grace of God through Jesus Christ as we put our faith in Him. It is that simple but profound.
God extended his grace to us. “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). Ephesians 2:5
There is no other plan and avenue for peace except thru the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Jesus has paid the ultimate price for our permanent peace.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer is the peace that transcends all understanding. It does not matter what is going on; a child of God (one who has put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ) must have peace. Hence Paul writes “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:6-7.
I have peace. Do you? My parents prophetically named me “Udochukwu” without knowing that God was going to make it a reality in my life. Udochukwu in the Ibo language means peace (Udo) of God (Chukwu) or God’s peace. I love my first name peace. It even gets better. By special grace of God, I am married to Udo, my precious wife. We are Udo3 with the Holy Spirit. Yes, we have storms like everyone else but we have peace.
Like Paul, I offer you peace today regardless of what is going on in your life. Do you have Jesus Christ and the life of His Holy Spirit in your life? If not believe and trust in Him today. We have all sinned and there is no peace in the whole world now and forever without being reconciled to God. We have been enemies of God from the beginning hence we must make peace with God. Please make peace with God today. “Blessed (happy) are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” Matthew 5:9. Are you a son (daughter) of God? Peacemakers are those who have made peace with God -Reconciled.
We must also and therefore be peacemakers if we have received true peace. We must be peacemakers in our families, the Church and the rest of the world. We are extenders of God’s peace we have received. Wherever we are, there must be peace because the Prince of Peace lives in us. Are you a peacemaker? Not a peace keeper though sometimes necessary as our military help us in peace keeping. You can only maintain an existing peace. No peace, no maintenance or peace keeping.
Thank you for journeying with me through the study of Ephesians. I have been transformed by the grace of God and still being transformed by this gospel of grace. I am humbled by God’s grace and love. Thank you my Lord and my Savior for your peace.
Friend, receive peace and give peace to all. Give Jesus Christ to all. You don’t have any other useful offer to people. Extend grace and forgiveness to all as you have received. May the Lord’s peace, grace and love be with us forever. Amen.
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