[Together as a She Reads Truth community, we are reading through Ephesians. Sign up for the reading plan here!]
- separate from Christ
- excluded from citizenship in Israel
- foreigners to the covenants of the promise
- without hope and without God in the world
Separate. Excluded. Foreigner. Without hope + without God.
These words are harsh, and they are true if were not for the redeeming blood of Christ.
It is through Christ that these groups that define us, define us no more. (v. 14)
It is through Christ that the walls are removed. (v. 14)
It is through Christ, hostility is removed and replaced with peace. (v. 16-17)
It is through Christ that we are no longer separated from God: we have access to the Father. (v. 18)
Remember His promise: through Christ, you are no longer a stranger, no longer a foreigner, but a member of His household. Christ has paid the price, so that you could be made new.
- Write down walls that you see and perhaps abide by in your life?
- 1 Samuel 16:7b says: The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” [NIV] In what ways can we exercise the discipline of looking at the heart instead of appearances?
- Take time to ask God to tear down the walls our culture has built. Ask Him to show you ways that you can bring these walls of separation down, and replaced by His peace and unity.
- We are easily bound by the lies of our past. Remember to cling to His promises: He is using you, regardless, in spite of, and through your past!
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30 thoughts on "God’s people: separated but brought near by the blood"
i love cougars that is why i love to watch Desperate Housewives and also Cougar Town“
http://www.edsheeran.co.uk
I love this scripture. It shines a light on an area where I have been trying to work on and be delivered in. I have don't judge others but I tend to vainly get to know others rather than REALLY get to know them and who they are in their hearts. Like the word says Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Please keep me in prayer and I will do the same. God Bless you all my sisters in Christ.
I thank God for being free in the Spirit. My life has shown me different types of people and I’ve learned that no matter what a person may look like they don’t always portray what’s going on inside. Some people may or may not believe in God and they may or may not show it. I try to stay focused on God so that his will is done in all things that I do. Thank you Lord for saving my soul #Amen
I hope many will come back and back to this blog, which was obviously started a number of weeks ago … But I just began this study on Ephesians a few days ago and I like it that there are past comments from 13 weeks ago, but also a few from just a few days ago. Donna, I am praying for your faith to be strengthened right now. Keep holding on to the Lord, even if you feel "beat up" with what life throws you! Scripture tells us there is a "crown of life" for those who ENDURE to the end. If it was not easy to stray and/or get discouraged, there would have been no point of saying that over and over in the Word.
Thank you for the comments on this blog. They stimulate my own faith response as I reflect on this amazing book of Scripture!
I need prayer. I know that God's word is true, and I believe that he is working things out for others, but when it comes to me I find it very hard to believe. Some days I can hold onto it and walk with it but others I just can't seem to get it. I don't know whether I am to lazy , slow or I don't know what you would call it. But my heart burns with desire to have a working relationship with my Lord to believe without doubt. Most days I feel like that ship that is tossed and turned on the water, Please pray that the eyes of my understanding be enlightened.
Donna, being new to this forum, I basically responded to your post but posted it as a new one. If you are moved to see what I wrote, just go to the blog … But I want you to know that someone read your post and is praying for you today.
Thank you God for such a beautiful reminder of what you did on the cross for me. I am happier and more energized in my walk with you because you have really been speaking to me through this reading plan and I have you and only you to thank for that. Yes, Lord, take Your glory!
My sleeping daughter lays next to me as I read this passage and Devo. The first thing that came to my mind was to ask God to help her have His perspective one day. That she would have His eyes for others and would be protected from the judgement of others… That she would cling to Him when it does happen from others in the church and not run to the world as her parents did for acceptance. Now to personalize that, as her momma, I have to live obediently (as yesterday’s Devo talked about) and model that for her. So as I am going about life, I have the privilege to guide her on what this passage looks like. God give me Your eyes so I can see and love people like you do and return demonstrate it for the future generations.
I tend to look at people hearts because we all have flaws. Often it is hard to look past certain things. We don't sometimes realize the individual may need and want help. Good hearts can come in some worst wrapped packages.
Loved today’s reading especially using the Message. It’s very awesome to know that Go is building something and he is using me in all my messed up crap he saw me and he chose to use me in what he has planned.
In my case a lot of times it has been pride and past hurt that has separated me from the love of Christ. So many times I have found myself on the opposite side of a wall that I built bc I was too stubborn to ask God to help me and to heal me from the past. Now I am realizing the impact that it has had in my life and I refuse to allow another day to pass without being close to God.
I feel that now more than ever, we all must take heed of these uniting words as Christians. Our world is in perilous times, and as believers in Jesus, we must work together to build each other up and bring more followers into the fold of God! It is good to discuss these readings with others, even if not in person! Keep reading, studying, seeking, and loving our Lord!
What struck me most from Ephesians 2:11 – was from The Message version. It says "But don't take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God's ways had no idea of any of this, didn't know the first thing about the way God works, hadn't the faintest idea of Christ."
My prayer is that I don't take "this," my God, for granted. That I do not forget what I'm learning and how important my relationship with God is. And that I don't let it boost my ego but that I only do things for God.
I did fit anywhere except for family when I was younger which is most important but not realized then. Since I have gotten closer to God this has been a truly blessed turn around. At times I may still feel lost because of my situation and some times are harder than others. I continue to pray have faith and complete my bible study. I pray for you all who have walls hard to tear down. Most importantly we have to continue to pray for each other. I am a loving people person and like to see individuals happy. My wall has been broken down but it was because of God faith and prayer.
"You are no longer strangers or outsiders. You BELONG here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone" (MSG)
Wow. I have a hard time being open about my new found (since July) faith after being openly apathetic towards religion for most of my life. I feel like I don't have any clout to talk about it because I am just a new Christian and not as well versed on the subject, on top of the fact that it is a drastic change to all of the people in my life that know how I was. I was even trying to explain these feelings today to a friend but I get so shy when discussing my faith (and I'm the opposite of shy otherwise).
How amazing is He at showing us what we need to see exactly when we need to see it!?
God bless you all, these studies have really kept me going in strengthening my relationship with Christ.
HE IS OUR PEACE. I love that, because I look at it as if we are anxious or nervous about anything in life, just remember, HE IS OUR PEACE.
I am totally blind, and I say I want people to like me or that I want to get close to people, yet I put up walls all the time. We have a lot of older people at church, and a lot of them like to talk to me almost like I was a child, you know, like "Hi dearie," and so forth, or touch me, and my first instinct is to shrug them away because I have this personal space thing and it's hard for me to let people touch me unless I am very close to them. As far as how they talk to me, sometimes, they talk to others the same way and that's just their way. i am so trying to break down these walls and be accepting and welcoming rather than closed off.
Whoa… Sorry that was a little long lol, I’m very passionate about the work Gods done
I wish there was a way we could respond to specific people — if there is let me know how?
Kim I’m praying for your health and claiming healing in the name of Jesus.
On another note….
I just want to encourage you all with the fact that God does mightily break down the walls we build up, he has done it for me, continues to do it in my life and will for you as we’ll if you seek it.
I used to be, and am a very confident out going person, but about 2 years ago realized most of my attention was because I prided myself on my appearance. Makeup, hair, clothes you name it. I was so convicted, and trouble by the fact that I was only known for my looks that I decided there needed to be a radical change. I wanted to know i was loved, accepted and beautiful for just being me.
So I stopped wearing all make up and chopped off all my long hair…. I hated it at first, felt hideous… Didn’t like being in public…. But God was revealing himself to me, telling me I was so useful no matter what I looked like… And the friends that mattered stuck around and loved me for me.
It is so freeing to have those kind of “outward appearance” walls broken down…. And I’m not saying I never wear makeup anymore, i do…. And my hair is almost at my shoulders now…. But I’m comfortable now embracing who God made me to be and I’m so beautiful in His eyes just the way I am.
Love your testimony. I can totally relate. After chemo and my hair loss, I had to look at myself thru eyes without scales. It was uncomfortable at first but I really liked not having to dress up etc. I finally saw me for who I am. Liberating and frightening at the same time. Now my hair is growing back and I'm just reveling in not doing anything with it. I just am so happy to have survived the storm that appearances are the least important thing to me now.
Keep grounded and focused my sister, as we keep our eyes focused on our eternal hope, and not the external.
I so needed to hear verse 19 – You are no longer strangers or aliens. I often feel a sense of not belonging or fitting in anywhere. But because of Christ, I don't have the own that. That feeling doesn't have to be my truth. I needed to embrace the truth that I belong in him.
Something I have only recently come to realize, is that I have built up protection walls around myself that I only let down for super close people like my husband and best friend. I tend to be a bubbly person who does not show her true feelings and doesn't go deeper otherwise. I never really thought I had a problem with this, but recently when someone talked to me about not being confident, I started thinking about it. I don't necessarily have walls up against race, age, political party, etc…but I keep walls against almost anyone who doesn't pass my 'test of time' or 'worth getting to know test,' and thats just silly!
I think my lack of confidence, which I never knew I had, does come from a lot that has gone on the past 10 years. I don't want to be arrogant, but I want to stand firm in Christ and not be a timid person, but a meek and solid person. I don't want to have walls, because walls are just pride. So, I'm praying for Christ to show me how to tear those down, because I sure don't know!
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22 NIV)
The fact that God values us enough to dwell in us through His Spirit is a great reminder to me that we are His..without reservation. When we acknowledge that, we are closer to realizing our "walls" are self-induced. I also love that Paul says "are beng built." We are a work in progress…and that is awesome too!
One look at the morning news (which I’m watching right now) makes abundantly clear the walls which we, as a people, have put up in our society. 1 Samuel 16:7 is a fresh reminder that the Lord sees us differently! I must strive to be a reflection of that every day so that others see Christ in me.
P.S. I am dealing with some serious health problems. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
I am new here, but I hope it is okay if I jump right in.
This is a great reminder in every day life. As you said, in this day and age, there are so many walls, and really, what purpose to they serve? What I find so powerful is that if Christ himself is able to break through those barriers, then so can we. I believe that when we look at other people as being our brothers and sisters, as opposed to just being random strangers, then we begin to break down those walls. But how awesome to think that because of Christ dying on the cross, we can all be closer to God.
I seem to think it's easier to sit back and observe others and judge based on outward appearances. It's a defense mechanism for me, to not get hurt by others. I constantly feel convicted, and this study today helped me really pinpoint this area as one that needs to be changed. I should try and see people as Christ sees them, and give them the grace that I've been given.
Thankful for the truth: "HE IS USING YOU, regardless, in spite of, and through your past."
I have a harder time with letting people close to me because I’m afraid of getting hurt again also. …don’t know how God does it over and over
One of the walls I see in our culture is "ageism"–yes, being a "senior" has shown me our world does not honor older people. It is the look, the not asking for advise, the not seeing me as valuable. I have to continually remind myself "grey hair is a honor to God," and that I am valued by God who loves me no matter what my age is!
I am praying God who is "using me, fitting me in….a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home" verse 21-22 (my paraphrase) will use me to shine through to all ages.
I need the Lord to give me great growth in looking at the hearts rather than appearances of people. For those who are also Christians, I must first praise the Lord for our common ground and rejoice that we are both in Christ. I ought to give them the grace I've been given, and think of them graciously – perhaps they're struggling right now, but as Believers they are in Christ free from the things they struggle against, am I encouraging them to be free from their sins or reminding them of it? Am I helping them along the way as they fight sin or am I adding to their load as I notice their outward appearances rather than their hearts desires? Mostly, I'm learning that in order to consider others as we're considered by Christ, I must pursue relationships with more time rather than quick assumptions. So thankful that the Lord has united what was once separated, and that we can be His in Christ.