Ephesians 2:11-162
These days we are all well versed about what gets in the way of the community that Christ desires for us. In the young fellowship in Ephesus, contrary agendas are also creating strife. Paul encourages them to consider a vision of the church for which Christ gave his life: For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us (v. 14).
The walls between us are well-defined, jagged, and keep us distant from one another. But Christ’s peace always provides a new starting point.
A neighbor in our small town was distrusted by just about everyone. Charlie moved near our family after being released from the German prisoner of war camp located on the edge of town. Our citizens had grave reservations about Charlie’s trustworthiness. I remember watching him walk past our house on the way to his barber shop on the town square. He seemed lonely.
Our dad decided that because Charlie was our neighbor, he would be our barber. Though my burr haircut wasn’t difficult to accomplish, Charlie still left a thick patch of hair between my ear and my scalped head. I begged my dad to find someone better, but our dad said it was only right for us to be our neighbor’s patron.
Oh, the things that make for peace. Still, I was proud of my father’s high expectations. He insisted that we break down the wall standing between us and our neighbor, good barber or not.
While our peacemaking efforts may seem small, eventually walls come down. After all, when Christ is our peace, we do not make peace alone.
Consider
What small thing can you do today to offer the peace of Christ?
Pray
Pray that God may use you as an instrument of peace.