Ephesians 2:11-22 (NRSV)
Read Ephesians 2:11-22 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called "the uncircumcision" by those who are called "the circumcision" -a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands- Verse 12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Verse 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Verse 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. Verse 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, Verse 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. Verse 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; Verse 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. Verse 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, Verse 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. Verse 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; Verse 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
Devotion
I was awake when I was baptized. Not awake in the way that the children I have baptized in my ministry have been awake. I was in my thirties; I have been baptized for less than two decades.
I can tell you that the dividing wall is still alive and well. Those of us on the "inside" and those of them on the "outside" are seen as if they were separate tribes on some kind of Survivor show on television. We might speak of those outside as our "mission field" or "God's fertile field" or use other metaphors which make it appear that they are merely grist for our mills, grain to be gathered and consumed to satisfy our church hunger.
But Christ is our peace, not the thing that divides us, rather that which eliminates division and allows us to see the broken humanity that is also in ourselves and not just those who have not confessed his holy name. Through his eyes we are all unworthy, and yet beloved; broken, but not yet beyond redemption. When our eyes have such sight we can approach those outside of our fellowship as brothers and sisters instead of as others who must be conformed to us in order to find welcome.
Prayer
Structural Christ, foundation and cornerstone of all blessing and hope, have mercy upon us. We revel in our freedom and security so much that we forget that while others may stand on softer ground, that is not their failing but ours in neglecting to draw them to the solid rock. Strengthen our arms to reach out in love alone to the strangers in our midst. Amen.