Broken, Abolished and United

Broken, Abolished and United

Ephesians 2: ¹⁴ For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. ¹⁵ He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace. 

 

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“Give me that” the teacher said to us. We were fighting over a certain toy. I said it was mine because I saw it first. She said it was hers because she always played with it. Both arguments were sound, but flawed.

 

• I wanted to win the argument.
• I wanted to get my way.
• I wanted to be the one with favor so I presented “my” case so I could get “my” way.

 

Paul continues speaking about racism and classism. Church leaders were using the Law as a means to keep people separated. The outcasts and those who were not born into a certain race, developed their own communities where they could be accepted. Nothing was working. Hatred abounded. BUT GOD did something about it.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to have peace so HE broke down the rules that cause any separation from HIM or HIS children.
• GOD wants me to belong to the entire family rather than dividing into factions.
• GOD wants me to receive HIS peace by understanding HIS desire for unification.

 

“CHRIST HIMSELF brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. “ HE does not condone favoritism, nor is one race higher than another. HE sees the efforts of each human trying to reign superiority over one another, so HE came up with a plan. HE took the thing they were fighting over away and told all humans to reconcile.

 

Unfortunately we have a sin nature that blinds us to unity. We settle for a smaller group that accepts our sin rather than trying to bring all people back to GOD in union with CHRIST. HE made us special to reach a specific group. I am grateful JESUS accepted me into HIS family and gives me peace.

 

Challenge

• What is the writer’s appeal about racism?
• Have you ever experienced racism. classism, sexism, ageism or something else that separates you from being united in CHRIST?
• Will you break down the barriers, abolish whatever rule you may hold onto and point people to the one true answer, namely JESUS?