peace

His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. - Ephesians 2:15-18

An amazing thought came to me this morning: peace is the result of two people becoming one, being reconciled through the cross. The answer to war and cruelty and violence is aligning yourself with someone else so unlike you. The product is peace and the world will witness the miracle of peace dripping from unity.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. - Ephesians 2:19-22

Our joining together, our union, creates a space for God to inhabit, and as our union is joined with the union of others, we create an entire mansion for God in which to dwell among us. This thought amazes me.