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 into one people when, 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.
We Are One
In his final prayer time, Jesus prayed that we would be one. That all believers would be united. Each of the Apostles carried on that theme. God has called us to put aside our differences and come together under one banner. Paul reminds the Jews and Gentiles of this truth in this passage.
I think it’s hard for us to comprehend how difficult it was for the early church. Two groups that had been at odds for their entire history, suddenly invited to come together. Jews who saw themselves as far superior than Gentiles. After all, they were God’s chosen people. The Gentiles were simply dogs who should be grateful for whatever God offered them. Gentiles who saw the Jews are religious elitists. They were close-minded, arrogant, judgemental.
And yet, the early church leaders simply would not allow the division to continue. The message of grace was for all, and that meant that these two groups needed to put aside their differences and come together. It must have been incredibly hard.
Sometimes God calls us to do difficult things. In those moments, we must decide: is he God or isn’t he? Is it his will and way or do we take that back when he challenges us? It’s easy to come up with an excuse and justify why we can’t do it God’s way, but in the end, he wont change.
Perhaps that’s where you are today. God has called you to do something difficult. You’re debating whether or not you should follow his direction or stay in your comfort zone. Let me encourage you: he really does always know best. Trust him.
My prayer: Lord, whether it’s unity with other believers, or something completely different, I know that your way really is the right way. Help me to always trust you, even when it means the path might be uncomfortable or difficult. Give me the strength to continue when I want to simply hide in the crowd. Amen.
Until tomorrow.
