Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Charles Abraham
St. Johns MTC, NY
“For
he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the
barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” – Ephesians 2:14
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist,
an inventor, an engineer, an entrepreneur, a businessman, and an author who was
born in 1833, and died on December 10th in 1896. In his will, Mr.
Nobel stated that a majority of his wealth should be divided into five parts
and used for prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology, literature and peace to
“those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest
benefit to mankind.” Aside from being famous for being the person who set up
the Nobel prizes, Mr. Nobel is most well-known for inventing dynamite (and
holding over 300 other patents). It is still unclear as to why Mr. Nobel
selected “peace” as a prize category – but to this day every December 10th
(the anniversary of his death) a Nobel peace prize is awarded to an individual
as selected by a committee. While the annual Nobel peace award may be fraught
with politics, special interests, and other controversies, as Christians we are
provided an example of another type of peace-maker. One who does confer the
greatest benefit to mankind.
In Ephesians Chapter 2, Paul
discusses how Jesus represents the reconciliation between the Jews and
Gentiles. In this portion, Paul starts by reminding us of how the Gentiles were
not citizens, how we were individuals without hope and without God in the
world. Paul reminds us that it was Jesus who brought us (who were previously
far away), near to Him and to His kingdom. We know that there is no peace
without sacrifice, and Paul notes that it was the sacrifice of Christ; it was
His blood that led to reconciliation. Christ’s blood has led to the destruction
of the dividing wall of hostility, it has led to the peace that was purchased
on the cross.
Today we are live in a society
filled with divisive rhetoric, pain, poverty, and politics. I believe that
Paul’s message continues to ring true today. Today we continue to be divided,
and we need reconciliation through the blood of Christ. In verse 18, Paul
exhorts the Ephesians by stating “for through him [Jesus] we both have access to
the Father by one Spirit.” The end goal of reconciliation and unity is not only
to have access to the Father; it is not just a mere prize, but rather to become
a dwelling place for the Lord.
Brothers and sisters, can we say that today? Can we
say as Paul did, that we are “being built together to become a dwelling place in which God lives by His spirit”? In these
divisive times, we need to remember what unites us. We need to recognize the
sacrifice by which we have been brought near, without walls of hostility. We
need to continue to grow (and be built) into the holy temple of God.
PRAYER
Father, we pray that we might be united through the blood of Your Son,
Jesus Christ. That we might recognize the sinful nature from which You have
saved us, and that we can work together as Your children to become a holy
dwelling place for You. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will
see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14