Peace And Love

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:23

Paul wants the best for his Ephesian children in the faith.  As he closes his epistle to them he pronounces a fatherly benediction.  He desires that they should experience ‘peace’ and ‘love with faith.’  Paul knows that the only way for them to experience these things is to receive them from ‘God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’  We desire the best for our children, both the natural and the spiritual ones.  If we know God and His Christ, we know that the only way for our children to have ‘peace’ and ‘love with faith’ is to have them from God and through Christ.  Paul’s parting desire becomes our desire as well.  This leads us to Christ, and to make much of Him.  Peace and love with faith arises out of our vital union with Christ and the application of the whole of the redemption He has purchased to us by the Holy Spirit.  Mere religion will not do it, nor will moral and ethical behavior wrapped in religious language.  Peace and love with faith are the direct effects of our genuine experience of Christ.  As we intercede for our children, let us intercede for them that God would show them Christ by the work of His Spirit.  Let us pray that He will enable them to experience Christ so that they may have peace and love in faith.

Our Good and Gracious God,
we rejoice that You are the God of
peace, love and faith.
We praise You that You impart
these things unto Your children,
through Christ, by His Holy Spirit.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning