Lenten Devotional, Week 2

Called – To Be One
Ephesians 2
Lent, Week 2

Read Ephesians, Chapter Two.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility. … So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:13-14, 19)

Powerful words.

Now go back. Read them again. But this time, read them aloud and read them slowly.

“… far off …” There are many ways of being "far off."

Several weeks ago the Fargo area was shocked to learn that a homeless man had been found frozen to death on the steps of the Roman Catholic Bishop’s home. He had been a frequent visitor there and had often received food and help from the Diocese. But that night, no one was home, and as the temperatures dipped below zero and the knocks on the door went unanswered, there must have been no other place for this man to go. So he lay down on the steps and never awoke.

Friends, there are many ways of being "far off." We’ve all experienced it - and we’ve all seen it:

• In the face of the man standing on the corner with the sign “Will Work for Food."
• In the eyes of the person who has been hurt.
• In the body language of the woman sitting alone in the ICU waiting room.
• In the body language of the person whose words have just been rejected.

“Far off” is not a comfortable place, and yet how often have we felt it – or seen it – or unfortunately, brought it on.

We live in a world where all too often we allow what divides us to define us. Rich or poor? Democrat or republican? Young or old? Conservative or liberal? Clergy or laity? Male or female? Tall or short?

We define ourselves by these divisive labels and we find our place in the culture and system through them.

But listen again to Ephesians 2:
“For he (Christ) is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.”

What would it look like if we defined ourselves not by what divides us, but instead by what unites us?

“Christ … has made us both one.”
“Christ … has broken down the dividing walls … “
“Christ is our peace.”

Christ didn’t die for just one group. He died for us all.

This Lenten season – and particularly this week in Lent – pray for unity.

Pray daily that through the cross of Christ each of us might find our “one-ness”.

Pray that as we are called to Christ, Christ then calls us to each other.

Questions to ponder:
1. In what area in your life do you feel “far off” and separated from others right now? Who do you know that also might be living “far off” from a group or family, or God’s grace?

2. Is it beyond reason for the writer of Ephesians to say that “Christ has made us both one?” In what ways is that not true? In what ways might it be true after all?

3. If indeed Christ died for all, what group of persons in your world right now most need your acceptance and one-ness with them? Why is it so hard for us to think of being “united” with those persons?