City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

^“11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— ¹² that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Ephesians 2:11-13

“²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. ²³ His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.”

Galatians 4:22-23 (NIV)

Reflection

The Apostle Paul paints a picture of “Gentiles in the flesh” as people who have no will of their own.  There are many influences around, and these people just wonder through life aimlessly reacting to whatever stimulus happens to be driving them at that moment.  Paul also notes that these Gentiles are outsiders. They are “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.”  This is the Enterprise of God, or God’s family business.

If you have ever stayed with friends for more than a night or two, you have experienced the polite accommodations of the host start to “crack.”  The first night everyone is on good behavior and grace for the traditions of the home abounds. There is no concern for shoes warn while walking on the clean floors, dishes are left on the counter, and long bathroom occupations are tolerated with grace. This is not the case on day seven, or ten, or twenty. Benjamin Franklin said that both guest and fish stink after three days. And let us face it, when we were gentiles separated from God, we stank to high heaven… literally.

Now that we are in Christ, are we no longer stink? Are we now great and wonderful and all is right with the world?  Well, maybe not. But we are now part of that great commonwealth, God’s family business.  The family line to slavery is cut and the new inheritance is established; it cannot be taken away.

There was a Chinese food restaurant that I used to go to for lunch some years ago, and I got to know the owner a bit.  He was an older gentleman and he worked hard at the restaurant every day.  One day I went in, and his son was working there.  As I spoke with him, he says that he was helping his dad out while he was sick. It turns out that the son was a doctor living in Chicago and he left his practice to tend his father’s store for a few months while his father recovered.  No matter where you go, you are still part of the family business.

Application

Find a family business and observe:

1. The attitude of the family members.  Are they interested or disinterested in the success of the business?
2. Are they responsive to the customers?
3. Can you sense that you are an insider or an outsider?

Prayer

Dear Lord, when I consider Your kingdom, I am impressed with the greatness of it and the otherness of Your nature.  The ways of Your kingdoms are foreign to me, but I accept them with all my heart. I pray that You send Your Holy Spirit to teach me Your ways, so that they might be established in my life for Your good pleasure.  To the praise of Your glory and grace.  Amen.