THE PEACE OF GOD

EPHESIANS 6:19–24

Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Ephesians 6:23)

Having described how we are to stand firm in the armor of God, especially through prayer, Paul then asks for prayer for himself. At this point, Paul was no longer on the move, but was standing firm in one place, in prison. He asks that he might fearlessly proclaim the Gospel—in other words, that his verbal feet might be shod with the Gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:19 and 15). He asks again that he might be fearless (v. 20). We see from this that Paul was afraid and that he recognized how much he needed the sevenfold armor he has described.

Paul then says that he is sending Tychicus with this letter. He will tell them how Paul is doing personally and convey personal messages from him. Paul believes that it is important for the Ephesians to know how he is faring. By implication, this means that we should be concerned about how other believers are getting along, especially those being persecuted for the faith. It is easy in a materially prosperous society like ours to forget to be interested and concerned about our brethren who are suffering. Paul wants the Ephesians to know about him, and he assumes that they will be interested.

Ephesians ends with a benediction. A benediction is not a prayer, not a request that God bless us. Rather, a benediction places God’s blessing on His people. A benediction is an action performed by an officer in the kingdom of God. The great benediction in the Bible is in Numbers 6:22–27, which the church uses to put God’s blessing on His people.

Paul as an apostle puts the blessing of God on the Ephesians and on all who faithfully read the Bible. First he places peace on them, peace with God, and ultimately peace with everything in God’s cosmos. Second, because they have peace, they are also made members of God’s loving family. God’s family love is always faithful, and they have God as their Father and Jesus as their Husband. Finally, Paul places grace upon them, so that they will have the power to live the new life in the new community and the strength to stand firm and become fearless as they carry forth the battle against the enemy.

CORAM DEO

2 Samuel 12–14

Do you keep up on what other Christians around the world are going through? Do you keep them in your prayers? This week write a letter to an overseas missionary to find out how they and other believers are doing. It will greatly encourage them.

For further study: John 14:25–27 • Rom. 12:17–21 • Col. 3:12–17