Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
October 19, 2021
Read Ephesians 2:11-22
11 So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are physically circumcised. 12 At that time you were without Christ. You were aliens rather than citizens of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of God’s promise. In this world you had no hope and no God. 13 But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who once were so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us. 15 He canceled the detailed rules of the Law so that he could create one new person out of the two groups, making peace. 16 He reconciled them both as one body to God by the cross, which ended the hostility to God. 17 When he came, he announced the good news of peace to you who were far away from God and to those who were near. 18 We both have access to the Father through Christ by the one Spirit. 19 So now you are no longer strangers and aliens. Rather, you are fellow citizens with God’s people, and you belong to God’s household. 20 As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 The whole building is joined together in him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord. 22 Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit.
Good Morning! We are one in the Spirit. We are one in the love.
When Jesus came and turned the prevailing thoughts of the world upside down, he invited all to join in the fellowship of God’s household. No longer would the world be divided into Gentiles and Jews, rich and poor, educated and uneducated. The Jewish leaders of the time never were able to fully comprehend and accept these ideas. The rules that they followed had been handed down for generations, and they enjoyed being among the privileged. For them, they felt special because they were “God’s chosen people.”
Now, here comes this supposed “Messiah” who invites everyone to come. What?!? But we’ve waited all these years and followed all the rules, how can these unclean, non Jews suddenly be included? Jesus tore down these precepts.
It is easy to scorn the Jewish leaders for their inability to accept these “new” teachings, and to reject the Gentiles who were being brought into the fellowship. However, we must examine ourselves before tossing that first stone. Do we lovingly accept all into the body of believers? What about those who look, think, or act differently than we do? Jesus tore down walls of division, but we replaced those walls with new ones. If Jesus came today, what would he see in us?
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. It is so hard to open ourselves fully to your teachings. We struggle with inviting those who are different to join us. Open our eyes to see the true person as we look inwardly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: When I keep my focus on God, all labels fall away.
Jesus loves all! Pastor Liz
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