PODCAST
Peace Is Not a Last Resort
March 2nd, 2024
Ephesians 4:1-7
Over the years, there have been many attempts to establish peace in the Middle East.
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, and it entails much more than an absence of conflict. It describes a life of wholeness, reconciliation, and restoration. That is the “peace” God wants for us. Life is full of conflict—even in the church. It is part of living in a fallen world. Still, God desires peace for God’s people.
Ephesians 4 tells us that we can only achieve unity as a body of Christ through the bond of peace. At the first sign of conflict, we tend to seek practical solutions using pop psychology or self-help advice. Peace is not a last resort. It should always be the first. Any peace agreement requires both parties to sacrifice, and both parties need to have faith that the other will hold up their end of the agreement.
Lasting peace requires respect. God calls us to live at peace so that the world can know what true peace looks like.
Author: Carol Rittenhouse
