called

“He came and preached peace”, now that is a wonderful phrase to muse on before the Lord on a cold, wet and dark January morning in England!  It comes from Ephesians chapter two. They are liberating words and most precious.  It is music to the ears that hear it and life to the soul.  In the Bible the word for peace (Shalom) includes much more than the ending of hostilities or maybe the tranquility which results from an end of disturbances.  Added to those meanings is the idea of sitting together and feasting celebrating joyfully with the very ones with whom there had been enmity!  Romans chapter five verse one tells us that ‘we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’.  Peace has come.  Peace with God, with whom we were formerly inveterate enemies.