Ephesians 6:23

If you have problems ending your letters, then try a Christian benediction. That’s the way Paul ended his letters. Here for example is Ephesians chapter 6 verse 23. Paul writes, “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” I wish that when I finish my letters, I could put these three marvelous blessings in the envelope and send them off: peace and love and faith. You and I have the peace of God in our hearts. We have peace with God because of Jesus Christ. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). It’s interesting. In this chapter Paul has been talking about war. Now he ends up talking about peace. He’s saying in this warfare against the devil, our goal is peace. Peace to the brethren. I wonder, when I walk into a room do I bring peace or war? Do I bring delight or division?

Then he talks about love. “Peace to the brethren, and love.” Here he’s talking about our walk with the Lord. Our walk in love. In fact, he had said that! “Be imitators of God as dear children; and walk in love” (Ephesians 5:1-2). I wonder when I walk through this day, am I going to be sharing the fragrance of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ? Peace and love go together, don’t they? If you have the peace of God in your heart and peace with God, you certainly want to love God and love one another.

His third benediction was faith. “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith.” Oh how we need faith! Faith and faithfulness go together. By faith I claim God’s wealth. Here we have a summary of Ephesians. In chapters 1, 2 and 3, God’s wealth in Christ; 4 and 5, our walk in Christ; chapter 6, our warfare, peace; our walk, love; our wealth, faith. Claim the wealth that you have from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Peace, love, faith. As we go through the day, these would be wonderful treasures to leave behind to encourage others.