God of peace

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. I want to break up the benediction of this letter into two parts because there is so much in these two verses. We can derive much encouragement to live to love with Jesus. First, we take heart that God is a God of peace. This is so important for us since there is no peace on earth if it doesn’t come from God. The world is hostile to God and therefore always in conflict. It is always shaking. However, God sent His Son to give peace to all men with whom He is well-pleased (Luke 2:14). He said to His disciples, “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). And again, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. The author based the declaration of God as a God of peace on the atonement and resurrection just as Paul did when writing to the Romans in 5:1. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The author harkened back to his discussion about the new covenant, that it is an eternal covenant based on the blood of Jesus, His Son, and our Lord. He shed His blood on the cross as the propitiation or payment for sin, putting us at peace with God. Our encouragement today is that this peace originates with God. He is the great peacemaker between God and man. That is the ministry of the high priest of which the author spoke throughout the entire letter. We know we have peace with God through the blood of Christ because God raised Him from the dead. The resurrection is God’s testimony to the world that He accepts the sacrifice of His Son as payment for sins. Rom. 4:25 says Jesus was delivered up to death because of our transgressions, but He was raised because of our justification, meaning He has declared all who are in Christ as just in His presence. Sins paid for. All flesh removed. Nothing but Christ and His righteousness remains. The great Shepherd of the sheep has brought us all into the fold where we are safe and secure forever. Are you encouraged yet? I am! What love God has for His people that He would make peace within Himself on our behalf by dealing with our sin in His Son. He deserves glory, all the glory, forever and ever. If He’s to receive glory forever and ever, then we should give Him glory today. Let’s do it! Let us praise His name and show our gratitude to Him by loving with Jesus. Let us receive Him as life today and thank Him in word and deed for His steadfast love. We live out of His fullness because the God of peace has given us access to His throne through the blood of His Son, so we can fill up on His grace to love for His glory. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.