Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember your former state: you Gentiles by birth — called the Uncircumcised by those who, merely because of an operation on their flesh, are called the Circumcised — 12 at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Isra’el. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God’s promise. You were in this world without hope and without God.
13 But now, you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of the Messiah’s blood. 14 For he himself is our shalom — he has made us both one and has broken down the m’chitzah which divided us 15 by destroying in his own body the enmity occasioned by the Torah, with its commands set forth in the form of ordinances. He did this in order to create in union with himself from the two groups a single new humanity and thus make shalom, 16 and in order to reconcile to God both in a single body by being executed on a stake as a criminal and thus in himself killing that enmity.
17 Also, when he came, he announced as Good News shalom toyou far off and shalom to those nearby,[Ephesians 2:17 Isaiah 57:19] 18 news that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s family. 20 You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries and the prophets, with the cornerstone being Yeshua the Messiah himself. 21 In union with him the whole building is held together, and it is growing into a holy temple in union with the Lord. 22 Yes, in union with him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for God! (Complete Jewish Bible).
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Today we ponder the theme of "RESTructure."
I remember going through orientation to be a missionary in Tanzania, and being told that I would always be a "stranger" or a guest--a welcomed stranger, but a stranger none-the-less. That always bothered me, because I didn't like being a stranger. I loved God and I loved people and I wanted to be everyone's friend. I was missing the concept that I would never fully understand what it was like to be a Tanzanian, because I wasn't. But we all claim an identity as "citizens with the saints." Christ is our connection. When we allow Christ to RESTructure our lives to be built on the foundation of God's grace, then our world will be a better place. When welcoming and hospitality become a priority, we are better able to join with others in building up the body of Christ. And when we LISTEN to understand, rather than respond impatiently, we open the door to having our lives changed for the better.
Reconciling God, help us to remember that we are all part of your household. Teach us to look through another's eyes and walk in someone else's shoes so that we might experience what it means to be brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.
Meg Sander, '83
Transitional Pastor, Immanuel Zion Lutheran and Zion Lutheran Church, Albion, Nebraska
Ephesians 2:One in Christ
11 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth,[Ephesians 2:11 Gk in the flesh]called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember 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. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For 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. 15 He 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, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body[Ephesians 2:16 Or reconcile both of us in one body for God] through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.[Ephesians 2:16 Or in him, or in himself] 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.[Ephesians 2:20 Or keystone]21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually[Ephesians 2:22 Gk in the Spirit] into a dwelling place for God. (New Revised Standard Version).
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The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55108, United States
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