Ephesians 2:1-22
Saturday, 12 November 2022
“Christ is the one who holds the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord.”– Ephesians 2:21 [CEV]
Ever seen advertisements depicting the “before” and “after” of the effects a health tonic or exercise equipment makes on people? The visible effects attract people into buying them or trying them. Our reading today shows the stark difference between our old life and the new one in Christ Jesus. It is like light and darkness; and that should remind us time and again of the great privileges we have in Christ so that we would lift our hearts in thanksgiving to our Father in heaven!
Before we knew Christ, we were:
· Sinners (Vs.1-3)-caught in the snare of sin, under the power of the devil, disobedient to God. We were ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We were children of wrath along with the others who walked in the course of this world.
· Strangers (Vs.11-13)-far from God and from the covenant of His people, with no part in the promises of God. We were not just separated from God by our sin but enemies as far as His people were concerned. The barrier between Jew and Gentile was upon us.
BUT CHRIST MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!!! We who were dead were made alive, saved through faith in Him! He gave us a place beside Christ in the heavenly places! He has become our peace, breaking down the wall of separation! Jew and Gentile have been brought together as one in Christ! Vs.13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Now in Christ we are:
· God’s Masterpiece (Vs.10 NLT)- “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Just think there is only one like YOU! And God has planned something very unique that only you can fulfill in His master plan! May we seek to understand what He desires of our lives so that we can live fulfilled in Him!
· God’s holy Temple (Vs.21NLT)-“We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.” In the great building of God’s house, each of us, “living stones” with Christ as the Cornerstone, has a place! We are built into Him where God dwells by His Spirit! We need to yield ourselves so that the “rough edges” in us will be smoothened so that we can easily fit into the building and become a holy Temple for the LORD!
In the previous reading through the week, we meditated on how we are to keep us- the temple of God- holy. Understanding our great privilege in Christ and the part of the great building- the body of Christ we are part of, we are responsible to keep it consecrated to the LORD. May we as His temple display His glory in our lives and as His master piece bring glory to Him in fulfilling His planned good work for our lives!
If you are someone who hasn’t known what it is to be in Christ, may you find Him make all the difference in your life so that one day you can look at yourself wonder at the “before” and “after” life in Christ!
To Acts on: “Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.” -1 Peter 2:5 [GNT]
Listen: 'To our GOD'
Comments