If you are an observer of our culture or other modern cultures, you’ll no doubt notice that something is

missing in our world. And that something is PEACE. As I was growing up, I occasionally watched the

annual “Miss America Pageant.” The five finalists would be asked what they wanted most of all – and

inevitably one would answer, “World Peace.” And the audience would applaud enthusiastically.

I’m confident that the people in Paul’s day wanted world peace also – but it was far out of reach due to

the divisions and hostilities that plagued the area. Peace wasn’t on the horizon in Paul’s day – nor is it

coming any time soon in our day.

Because… true peace can only come through Jesus Christ. He told His followers, “Peace I leave you; my

peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. (John 14:27) The kind of peace Jesus brings is

different from what the world says it wants – which is basically the absence of war. The peace that Jesus

gives is much deeper, more lasting, and more fulfilling – and is not dependent on the circumstances

around us.

Paul puts it this way: For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the

middle way of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments

contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.

(Ephesians 2:14-15)

By His death on the cross, Jesus broke down the barriers. The physical curtain in the Temple was split

from top to bottom, but He also broke down other barriers that divided people.

The Message explains it this way: He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print

and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped (Ephesians 2:15). When questioned about whether

He was abolishing the law, Jesus explained to His listeners: “You must not think that I have come to

abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to complete them.” (Matthew 5:17).

And I believe He completed the Law by simplifying it and telling us to love God and love others. The

Jewish authorities made it quite complicated – and we often do the same. Let’s quit complicating what

God has made clear and simple.



Let’s quit agonizing over the news and worrying about world peace; instead, let’s pray for peace and

invite Christ, who is our peace, to rule in our hearts.

By Judy Shrout

Judy is the wife of Tom, mother of Heather, mother-in-law of Jim, grandmom to T.J., Ainsley, and

Maggie, and grandmother-in-law to Piper.