Ephesians 2:11-20 11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
Many years ago, my family was part of a community-wide church membership exchange. We were invited to a local Catholic church as guests for one Sunday, and a family from that congregation took our place in our church for that day. We were given a cordial welcome; nevertheless, we still had the sensation of feeling like foreigners. Although the service was vastly different in many respects, our common thread was to worship God and bring glory and honor to Him.
The focus of today’s text seems to be salvation for all on a local level. In what ways do we welcome others to our church family? Perhaps more importantly, do we actively seek out ways to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they, too, might become part of God’s family?
Gracious Heavenly Father, our LORD God Almighty,
Thank you that we who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, Amen.
The devotion ALIENS Part Two - Fellow Citizens was originally written for Saturday, March 27, 2010; for Maranatha Devotional Guide, an Advent Christian Publication https://acgc.us As the original author of this devotion, I reserve the right to update and share it on my current devotional blog Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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