15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  

Ephesians 6:15-16 (CSB) 

 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.[c] 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.  

Ephesians 2:12-18 (CSB) 

 12 For our struggle is not against [a]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

Ephesians 6: 12 (NASB) 

 14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth has fallen in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. 15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16  He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intervene; then his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury as a mantle. 

Isaiah 59: 14-17 (RSV) 

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November 12, 2025 

This week, we are exploring the depths and implications of Biblical peace and what it means to put on the shoes of peace. As we see in Ephesians 2:12-14, in addition to doing the impossible —establishing peace between God and anyone who puts their trust in Him —Jesus accomplished another seemingly impossible feat, establishing peace between people. In the text, it states that by his blood and flesh, he tore down the wall of hostility, not only bringing peace to warring human enemies but also taking a step further and developing them into one body —a new and never-before-seen version of humankind.  

Can we take a minute to reflect on this? To reflect on the overwhelming relief that this reality brings to humanity? How many thousands of years have human beings been at war with one another? How many years of hatred, how many years of nation conquering nation, how many years of oppression, how many years of racism and all manner of demonic prejudices? How many years of poverty, famine, starvation, and torture, all because of warring political powers at play? How many years of Christians of different denominations at war with those of other denominations? How many years of Christians at war with one another?  

Division in the church caused by arrogance and a lack of humility is one of the most off-putting aspects of Christianity and is leading thousands to want nothing to do with Christ.  

Division is a rejection of the precious work that Jesus Christ accomplished through his life, his suffering, his death, and his resurrection. He suffered so that you and I would put down our weapons that we have fixed at one another. He allowed us, his enemies, to torture him and put him to death so that we would have the strength to drop our weapons and instead pick up a towel and a bowl full of water and wash one another’s feet.  

Let’s drop our weapons, Church. And when we do, let’s humble ourselves before our brothers and sisters, ready to serve and to wash their feet.  

Questions for reflection and discussion:  

  • How would you assess your current state of peace with other believers?  
  • Where in your life do you find peace with other believers a challenge? Why do you think that is?  
  • Do you find it hard to believe that Jesus Christ has established peace among believers? Why or why not?  
  • Where might you be blinded by a lack of humility? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and for the grace to be humble.  

 Church Reading Plan: 2 Kings 25; Hebrews 7