Ephesians 2:14-16 “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two (Gentiles and Jews) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”

In God’s temple in Jerusalem, there was a physical wall that separated the Jews from the ‘court of the Gentiles’. They were not allowed to cross it and worship together. When Christ sacrificed himself for us on the cross, he not only tore apart the veil of the Holy of Holies separating us (symbolically) from God, but he tore down the wall (spiritually) which kept the Jews and Gentiles apart. If our Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood to break down the barriers separating us, who are we to rebuild the walls between us and ourfellow man? In whose power and by what authority do we feel entitled to do this? He ‘put to death’ the hostility between us. Why would we choose strife and contention over peace in our marriages, our families, our churches, our businesses, and our other relationships? Jesus is bigger than whatever divides us. What we have in common is bigger than all of our differences. Can we all, when difficulties arise, agree on our need for the grace and peace of Christ? If Christ can love us enough to give his body and blood for us, can we not, in the name of that same love, humble ourselves to keep peace with others?

Prayer: “Jesus, thank you for tearing down the walls that separated me from my Heavenly Father and from my fellow man. Forgive me, I pray, for the times I have allowed my own opinions and decisions to rebuild walls between myself and you and myself and others. By your grace, teach me to be a peacemaker, to act in love in all my relationships, and to see myself as part of a whole which is greater than just myself. In your mighty name I pray…Amen.”