28 Jul August 1 Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

PEACE RESTORED

Colossians 1:2  “ . . . peace to you from God our Father.”

The Holy Spirit meant it when He inspired holy writers to write, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and “the soul of the sinner it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:20ff)  Because of Jesus’ life, suffering and death, God is not at war with you.  He unleashed all of His wrath and displeasure upon His Son that should have been directed toward you. Jesus received the punishment for your sins you should have received.

Jesus took the full brunt of God’s punishment for your sins. St. Paul speaks of the peace you have with your heavenly Father through Jesus in these words from his letter to the Romans, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).

There is a special parable Jesus told that illustrates what peace with God looks like.  A young son rejected his father and his family, demanded his father give him his portion of the inheritance he would receive at the death of his father.  The son took the money, went away, squandered it and it ran out.  He realized the mistake he made, returned to his father.  Luke writes, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24)

Mike Nappa wrote, “Peace with God is, at its core, a spiritual reconciliation between family members. It is a restored relationship between you and your heavenly Father made possible because Jesus Christ suffered, died, and rose from His burial tomb on Easter morning.”

Prayer:  Praise and thanks to You, heavenly Father, for bringing me into Your family through Your Son Jesus’ sacrifice in my behalf.  In His name.  Amen.

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?

The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?

To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?

Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?

Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.

It is enough; earth’s struggles soon shall cease,

And Jesus call to heaven’s perfect peace.

(Edward Henry Bickersteth, 1875, Public Domain)