Our Daily Bread: Peace to Youနမူနာ

Peace at a Price

He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. -Ephesians 2:15

Water Lilies, one of Claude Monet’s most famous series of paintings, depicts the serene flowers of his backyard pond. He created them to give viewers “an asylum of peaceful meditation.” This aim was achieved in the 1920s when two galleries were built to house eight of the Monet paintings in Orangerie Museum in Paris, creating a haven of tranquility after the ravages of World War I.

Ironically, while the Water Lilies have brought peace to countless people, Monet was rarely peaceful while painting them. The wind blew away his canvases, and road dust settled on the lilies, causing deep frustration. He stomped on or slashed dozens of paintings he didn’t like. “I often suffer tortures when I paint,” he said of the anguish involved. The peace we enjoy from his work came at a cost.

In Ephesians 2, Paul recalls the hostility that existed between Jews and gentiles before Jesus reconciled them to each other and to peace with God (vv. 11–15). This war was won, however, at a tremendous price. The forgiveness that made a relationship with God available, and the reconciliation that’s now possible between us all, came through Jesus’ torturous death (v. 16). The peace of the gospel came at a cost.

I want to remember that when I next see Monet’s Water Lilies. The peace we enjoy with God and each other exists because of Jesus’ anguished work.

By Sheridan Voysey

Where and when do you feel closest to God? How can you remind yourself that this peace exists because of Jesus’ work on the cross?

Jesus, my peace came at the cost of Your agony. I never want to take that for granted. Thank You.