Ephesians 2:13-16
“But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to Him through the blood of Christ. For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in Himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of His death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.”
Jesus went to the cross to reconcile human beings to God and human beings to human beings. Notice that His death didn’t extinguish the difference between Jew and Gentile (different ethnic groups), instead it destroyed the social, cultural and spiritual hostilities between the two groups. His death created a new humanity – one new people. The Kingdom of God is multiethnic.
Respond in Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that you endured an agonizing death on the cross to make peace between me and God and between me and my fellow human beings on this earth. Examine my heart, Lord. Point out anything in me that offends you. Show me any walls of hostility I may be knowingly and unknowingly harboring in my heart and abolish them. Remove the scales from my eyes to see this world as You intended it – a multiethnic kingdom of peace and unity that brings glory to You. Help me today to begin establishing relationships with other people who don’t look like me and give me a humble heart to listen and learn from them. I’m truly sorry for the ways I continue to crucify You by not loving my fellow man as you call me to. For further learning: see this article to gain a fuller picture of the gospel.
For Families with Kids at Home
Following Jesus is a new way to live: to a reimagine our present reality. As a church, the work of dismantling systemic racism is going to require all of us to pray deeply and also lean into the Holy Spirit. Pray today that your family would seek the Kingdom of God over anything else.