July 26, 2018 Thursday

“11 ¶  Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh — who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands —  12  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 ¶  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21  in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:11-22 NKJV)

            Remember! When Jesus initiated the Last Supper he said “do this in remembrance of me” a call to remember who Jesus is and all Jesus has done for us. We must never forget the sacrifice Jesus made for us out of love!

            But Paul tells us we should also remember who we were and what we were like before Jesus. Before Jesus we were without hope and without people. Sin always divides, distorts and destroys. Our sin became an unbridgeable gulf between us and God where only God could reach across to us.

            By being totally human Jesus could bear our sins and take our punishment and being totally God Jesus could become our righteousness. Jesus abolished the enmity between God and humanity thus breaking down the wall of separation that existed.

            As we come to God and have access through the Holy Spirit not only are we united with God but also we are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”.

            The body of Christ continues to grow with Jesus as the chief cornerstone, the apostles and prophets as the foundation and all who profess Jesus Christ are joined together to form God’s holy temple.

            God is continuing to build his holy temple as more and more people come to Jesus Christ and become a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit!

            Are you still trying to build your own life and make your own way? If you have come to Jesus Christ do you remember where you came from even as you celebrate where you are now? Who has the ultimate authority over your life and over the church?

“God made us before we had the opportunity to make up God.”

William H. Willimon. United Methodist Beliefs: A Brief Introduction (p. 1). Kindle Edition.