Ephesians 2:15
“…His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
We are living in a time some call “strange.” Our social media platforms look a little different, the news and media are showing us things that make us uneasy. The world is still working through a pandemic. And life just feels a little crazy. We all just feel a little divided. And that’s never how it was meant to be.
God created humans in his image to love and worship and be in relationship with him. He created us knowing he’d love us unconditionally even when we chose not to. Man fell into sin, evil entered the world, things progressed, and we got to a point where all of humanity needed a savior. We know that savior as Jesus.
Paul, the author of Ephesians, makes a huge statement in his letter to this church. He tells them that Jesus’ death and resurrection is for everyone! It wasn’t just for God’s chosen people, the Israelites, but for the Gentiles and those considered foreigners/excluded from citizenship at the time. He makes it clear that the salvation found in Jesus Christ extends beyond one people group and pours out over all creation.
Jesus came preaching peace and destroyed any barrier made to divide people. He came to break all that down and demolish the hostility. Knowing Jesus, following Christ, means seeing those around you as your brothers and your sisters. We are all adopted into this royal family and as members of this holy household, we love and care for one another.
In light of all that’s happening in our world, it’s now more than ever that our brotherhood and sisterhood with each and every child of God matters most. We’ve got to step out in love and kindness. We’ve got to cease hostility and lean into Jesus’ peace. We’ve got to see one another as a family because that is what we are.
As you sit with this thought, take a second and start writing down names that pop into your head. Write down names of brothers and sisters in Christ you can actively love today. Write the names of brothers and sisters who need encouragement and hope. Lean into your identity as a child of God, but also look upon all your brothers and sisters in the same way.