June 14

Peace has been defined as the “tranquil state of the soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fears nothing from God and is content with its lot.” It is a sense of well-being, enjoyed by resting in Christ who “is our peace” (Eph 2:14). It is both through justification (Rom 5:1), and reconciliation that the Lord Jesus Christ “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col 1:20). He personally “came and preached peace” both to the Jews who were “near” and to the “far off” Gentiles (Eph 2:17) and we ought to follow His example: “preaching peace by Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). In addition, “the fruit of the Spirit is…peace” (Gal 5:22) and “the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Rom 16:20). “Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace” (Rom 14:19), having our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15). Peace has been described as “not the outward absence of turmoil but rest in the inward presence of God.”