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
My son taught me a valuable lesson one day while I was volunteering in his classroom. Since I was the parent helper for the day, he was able to choose a few friends to play a game with me before lunch. As he was deciding who to choose, I could see the wheels turning in his head.
He chose his friends, and I was touched by the diversity of those that he had invited to be in his group. One of them (let's call him Henry) was so excited that he was chosen. He grinned from ear to ear and said "thank you" to my son over and over again.
Now, from my time in the class in the past, I knew that Henry was often left out, not chosen or not invited. I asked my son after school what made him choose Henry and he confidently said, "He is a nice kid. Besides, everyone deserves to be chosen once in a while."
Paul reminds us in our reading for today that indeed everyone does deserve to be chosen. Thanks be to God, we can celebrate that we "are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God (vs 19). That, my friends, is good news! Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Calling God, in you is our identity and in you is our strength. Give us courage to live out that identity as ambassadors, calling all to your household. Amen.