City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

CLC Starter will take a short break, but fear not, we will be back with more devotionals soon. With that said, I wanted to thank all the writers who have sacrificed their time in order to write every week; Scott Fiddler, Nate Warren, Megan Meier, Blesson Selvanesan, Aisha Darwesh, and Paul Lane. Please add a comment of appreciation for all their writings! And if there was one devotional that you really was moved by or the Holy Spirit used in your life, please write this as an encouragement either here or to the person directly. It is great to have a church blessed with writers such as these. A big thank you to everyone!

The Word

¹⁴ 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

Reflection/Application

We have reached the finish line of the series in Ephesians. The sermons and devotionals have helped bring some great commentary to the letter from the apostle Paul. I hope that you have gone through this series with a renewed vigor to study the Bible.

During my study of Ephesians prior to the series, I came across Ephesians 2:14 and I saw it as a theme for the entire letter. It also became the verse I decided to put on the back of my book, “Breaking Barriers.” Jesus came to ‘destroy the barrier’ that separates us. Paul wanted to explain how Christ tore down the wall that divided both Gentiles and Jews from worshipping God together. Jesus accomplished this by the blood He shed on the cross for our sins. This was the mystery that Paul wanted to share to everyone. God’s kingdom is here now on this earth, and we are the ones who carry this light to the dark corners of the world. This new kingdom encompasses everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, no matter Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, or where you grew up.

We are one people serving one God, together.

Even though Jesus came to destroy this barrier, we are very quick to put up new barriers to separate ourselves from others. What other barriers are we putting up? Race? Politics? Gender? Socio-economic? Why do we keep putting up barriers when Jesus came to tear them down?

We have to fight for unity, and this is what Paul wanted the Ephesians to do. How do we do that? We put on the armor of God.

What does unity look like?

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)

Love God; love thy neighbor.

Prayer

Lord and Father, help me to bring unity to your church. Help me to fight for what is right, to fight for the relationships that Satan wants to break apart. Let me be a light to those around me by the love I show to others to break any barriers that may exist. I am unable to live a holy life without your guidance and help in my life. Help me to put on the armor of God and to rely on your Holy Spirit for my sustenance. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.