Today’s reading is found in Ephesians 2:14-18 (NLT)
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
We learned that peace isn’t necessarily the absence of conflict, but instead the ability to walk through conflict in a God-honoring way. The peace that comes from God is knowing that reconciliation is possible. These verses speak to our reconciliation with God. If we serve a God of reconciliation, then we must be willing to create that same peace in our lives.
The Christmas season often provides opportunities in the lives of friends and families for peace and reconciliation.
Take some time today to focus your mind on Christ, the Messiah, and consider this question:
Have you ever experienced conflict with others because of your faith in Christ? Is there someone in which you need to reconcile?