by Kristen Robinson
Ephesians 2:14a - For he himself is our peace...
It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, we were making new year’s resolutions and plans for the new year, 2020 – blissfully oblivious to the chaos that was coming our way. An international pandemic, social and political unrest, and a tumultuous election disrupted and changed all of our expectations for this year. I can’t remember another time in my life where I’ve felt more unrest both in my own bubble or so glaringly in the world writ large. But back in January 2020, we dove into REVIVE 2020 and made a habit of a daily devotional. Little did we know, 2020 was a year that we would need to rely on God’s Word more than ever!
This year, REVIVE 2021’s theme is to increase Christ in our lives and decrease the focus on ourselves. You really can’t get one without the other. That concept has been rolling around my head the past several weeks. As I watch the news and am bombarded by others’ turbulent social media posts, I find myself running headlong to scriptural reminders of God’s peace and His enduring hope. John 16:33 reminds us of God’s control of the situation: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” And 2 Timothy 1:7 provides us with a perspective when faced with this worldly tribulation: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
One of my favorites verses is Isaiah 26:3, which tells us, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” In a time as tumultuous as this, we are all wanting peace and comfort more than anything else. Some of us turn to our favorite binge-worthy TV shows or maybe a sweet snack for encouragement, and most of us decked our homes in Christmas décor to bring some brightness to the end of 2020. Those creature comforts have their place, but the Bible tells us clearly where to find lasting peace. Ephesians 2:14 reads, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” If God is peace, then the best and most fruitful way to find peace is to focus on Him, making ourselves smaller and Him bigger in our lives. We will have the “perfect peace” Isaiah tells us about when our minds are “stayed” or focused on Christ, who Himself is peace, as Paul tells us in Ephesians. As we embark on this new year, we have got to find this peace. I encourage you to reignite your intentional Bible and prayer life in 2021. This focus on Christ will not only shift your perspective, but will also bring you a new level of peace that will undoubtedly overflow on those around you.
If you are following our “Daily Bible-Reading Plan,” today's passages are John 10 & Psalm 31.