Ephesians 1:2

KJV: "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

Grace is commonly defined as God's Riches At Christ's Expense, but lately, what's been echoing in my soul is the need for peace...

The term used for peace in this passage is eirene {i-ray'-nay}, with the following definitions given:

1) a state of national tranquility

a) exemption from the rage and havoc of war

2) peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord

3) security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)

4) of the Messiah's peace

a) the way that leads to peace (salvation)

5) of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is

6) the blessed state of devout and upright men after death

The one that speaks to me the most strongly is #5: "state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsover sort that is".

This gives me great joy, and much relief. I'm very relieved to know that my salvation is in the hands of God Almighty, where it cannot be taken away. I'm relieved to know that whatever my earthly lot is, it's because God wanted me to be here, now, for a very specific reason. Thinking on this gives me great peace, and it's this assurance that is the strength of any Christian.

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On a sidenote, this past week has been anything but peaceful. I've been so rushed that I've left my keys in the front door overnight, and that was a wake up call for me. What God is speaking to me at the moment is to guard my heart and my time very carefully. Choose who I associate with, choose what I'm doing, choose where I place my priorities, choose where I derive my joy from. God have me the power to do so, and if I abuse it by choosing to associate with people that drag me down instead of build me up, choosing to take my cues from the world instead of the Word, and choosing to derive my satisfaction, my eirene, from anything other than Christ will only end in disaster. I've made my life a spiritual wasteland over many a bad decision. I'm done with that.

Grace, and peace.

I could use a lot more of that.

Selah.