AFTERNOON DEVOTION
Afternoon Devotion: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
- Romans 5:1
The Lord is working His holy purpose in His people to bring us to a place of spiritual perfection, and to achieve His eternal purpose in raising up His Body, the Church, to bring us under the headship of Christ (Ephesians 2:11) "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility" (Ephesians 2:14-16). Jesus died not only to bring us salvation and forgiveness of sins, but also to effect a new life of holiness in His Church. His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness and offers us many spiritual blessings. The first of which was tearing down that dividing wall where once we were called enemies of God, but now, through the atoning blood of Christ, we can be called His friends. "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven..." (Colossians 1:21-23). The blood of Christ shed on the cross has made peace possible between God and man!
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace."
"The LORD gives strength to His people;
The LORD blesses His people with peace."
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
"Now may the Lord of peace Himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you."
(Psalm 29:11; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:16)
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