The dividing wall
For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace. Ephesians 2 : 14 - 15 (GNB) |
Both today and for many thousands of years throughout our history we have used dividing walls to keep the peace. Even right now as you are reading this there are communities divided by walls and fences, marking a clear distinction between two groups of people. Dividing walls of this nature can be found in Belfast, Cyprus, Gaza and Israel to name just a few.
Chances are you don't live in a town split by a wall of bricks or barbed wire. However physical walls are not the only kind that exist. There are also 'thought walls' which separate us along cultural, political and ideological lines. Thought walls are common in virtually every community, although they are not always as obvious. Thought walls are however can be just as divisive as their physical counterparts.
Even if you look with the church, the community of Gods people, 'thought walls' exist. You find people trusting and worshipping the same God squabble and fight over their minor differences in approach and behaviour. They draw up dividing lines in their mind that prevent the cohesion and cooperation that God intended for us.
Jesus tells us in our passage today that this is not the way that he wants his people to live. Through his own suffering and pain he paved a way for us to all work together as one. His aim is that there are no dividing walls amongst his people. That we should not only rub-alongside each other peacefully but pro-actively work together as one in mutual trust and friendship.
This week are there any dividing walls in your life that need tearing down? If so trust that God can give you the knowledge and strength to start the demolition process. Have a great week.
This week's song is Good Fight by Unspoken. |
Header image by: Jennifer Boyer via Flickr