Living in His Grace: Everyday Devotions

SUNDAY, 11 AUGUST 2024

TEXT: Ephesians 2:11-22

11. Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

12. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

13. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

15. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

16. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.

18. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

19. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

20. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

21. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

22. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of his dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

(New Living Translation Holy Bible)

TOPIC: CHRISTIANS ARE ONE IN CHRIST

Although it has people drawn from different backgrounds, the Church is called to be one. Our tribes, traditions, etc, should be buried when we come into this wonderful relationship with Christ.

Though Gentiles are considered uncircumcised, the Ephesian believers were brought into fellowship with other Jewish brethren because of their newfound faith.

They became part of the Church and were expected to live as part of it. Today’s Christians must break the tribal and denominational barriers that separate us and begin to live as members of the body of Christ.

That way, we can do things that will build the body of Christ towards accomplishing God’s mandate for the Church.

We must make a difference in this world which is in dire need of God so as to make it a better place to live in.

QUESTION: How are you contributing towards building the body of Christ?

PRAYER: Forgive me, dear Lord, for creating a wall that divides Your church and help me to work towards the oneness of the Church so as to reveal Your glory, in Jesus name. Amen.