One of the prophetic titles given to the coming Christ was “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). In considering how the barriers and bitter animosity that existed between Jews and Gentiles were removed in Christ’s church, Paul wrote of Jesus in Ephesians 2:14-16:

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall 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, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

The Jews had written revelation of God which contained a law code of holiness. The Gentiles did not have the written law of Moses; thus, the keeping of the ordinances of that written law was the basis for the Jews being different from the Gentiles. When Jesus died on the cross, He abolished the enmity between the Jews and Gentiles by replacing the law of Moses with His offer of salvation, the New Testament, which includes all nations (cf. Col. 2:14; Mt. 28:19).

            To reconcile the Jews and Gentiles together would have seemed like an impossibility in the first century, yet it is exactly what Jesus did in His church. The “one body” of Ephesians 2:16 where all are reconciled together to God is the “same body” of Ephesians 3:6 of which both Jews and Gentiles are part according to God’s eternal plan. This body is the church of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23). Jesus did not establish a separate Jewish church and a separate Gentile church; He established one church. When Paul emphasizes the oneness in Christianity that includes one Lord and one God, he begins with the affirmation “there is one body” (Ephesians 4:4-6). One may just as well argue for multiple gods as to argue for multiple churches or bodies. In a world deeply divided by bitter hatred, Christ’s church must exhibit the peace, wholeness, and unity that is in the one, universal church Christ established; the one body into which all saved people have been baptized (1 Cor. 12:13).

            Prophecies uttered centuries before Jesus Christ came into the world depict God’s image of peace in the church Jesus established upon His death, not some yet future political rule. Isaiah, who mentioned that Jesus would be called Prince of Peace in 9:6, prophesied of peace in the church in 2:1-4. The Lord’s house/church would be established in the top of the mountains and all nations would be part of it (Isa. 2:2). Isaiah went on to describe the absence of strife in the church, the Lord’s house; thus, the figurative image of instruments of war be refashioned into tools for agricultural cultivation is employed to depict the peace and spiritual prosperity among those who are in the family of God (Isa. 2:4). Jews and Gentiles were bitter rivals; left to their own devices they would get along like wolves and lambs or lions and calves. Isaiah prophesied that in Christ’s church, God’s holy mountain, these enemies would dwell together in peace (Isaiah 11:6-9). In the Lord’s church, I can have peace with people who don’t look like me and have completely different backgrounds than me. I can worship next to them as their brother in Christ because of what Jesus did on the cross. May we see the peace the Lord provides and offer it to those who, according to fleshly standards, are radically different than us, knowing that all of us are really the same; all people from all backgrounds are in need of reconciliation to God in the one body.

-Mark Day

            As we continue looking at the Proverbs for wisdom, it is my hope that the knowledge given so far may spark an interest in studying this profound book of the Bible. If everyone would read, understand, and follow the wisdom found in Proverbs our world would be a better place! Though the world will not listen to God’s wisdom, will you? Let us examine three more Proverbs this morning.

            Have you ever noticed that the wicked have trouble controlling what they say? While walking in stores, it surprises me what comes out of the mouths of others! You can learn a lot about a person by what they say in public; you can learn even more by what they say behind closed doors. It is no wonder that God’s book on wisdom would have plenty to say about this subject (Prov. 4:24; 6:12; 10:14; 12:13; 13:3; 16:27-28; 18:7)! In fact, three of the seven things God hates involves the use of one’s tongue (Prov. 6:16-19). How is your speech, in public and private? Certainly, we cannot perfectly tame our tongues, for we are human (Jam. 3:8). Yet, are your verbal mistakes characterized as a seldom slip or a common occurrence? The Christian ought to be striving to subdue their mind, body, soul, and tongue to give glory to Christ our Lord. If we cannot watch what we say, how will anyone ever see Jesus in us?

            Have you ever sat at a dinner table and everyone surrounding you was upset? Was that dinner a memorable and pleasant ordeal? I will not get into details, but I have had a meal or two as just described. Maybe something was said, a grudge was held, or possibly everyone just had a bad day. This brings me to the next proverb, “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox with hatred” (Prov. 15:17). Another passage with a similar message is, “Better is a dry morsel with quietness than a house full of feasting with strife” (Prov. 17:1). The clear message is a simple meal with people you love is more enjoyable than a great meal with people who despise you. Is this not true? I want to take the lesson a step further, many people worry so much about what they put on the table that they lose focus on who is around it. Have you ever seen this dynamic (especially on TV shows)? The family is eating quail, crab legs, and caviar; but cannot stand one another. I will happily eat potatoes, beans, and cornbread with a loving family around me. What matters more to you, what you eat or with whom you eat?

            Sometimes we do not appreciate our friendships like we should. When things get difficult, real friends show up. The person who hangs around you but leaves at the first sign of trouble is no friend. “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity” (Prov. 17:17). Though Job’s friends did not give him the best advice and believed he was being punished for sin, were they not there when Job needed them most? (Job 2:11-13)? He was one of the wealthiest people of the East; do you think Job only had a handful of friends (Job 1:2-4)? The truth is his “friends” abandoned him at the first sign of trouble, but true friends love at all times. Are you a friend that will stick with others through the worst of times or are you only there while things go well? Christians ought to be reliable friends; dependable for others who look to us for assistance.

            Watch your tongue, worry about the people around the table instead of the food you put on it, and be a friend that is available when others are in need. Who would not benefit from following wise lessons such as these?

-Brandon Foresha