Category: Ephesians

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near  (Ephesians 2:17).

Pace Domnului

When I was in Romania many many many years ago, this was a common greeting between the brothers and sisters in Christ.

It’s pronounced pah-chay-domn-loo-eee.

Sort of

I remember the children getting the giggles every time I tried to communicate in their tongue. I can only assume it was because my pronunciation was so perfect it delighted their very souls.

In any case, Pace Domnlui translates roughly to “Peace of God.” Embedded in the greeting was the understanding that peace comes only from Christ, that he alone can bring peace to our crazy lives, our frantic schedules, our troubled and fearful and utterly stressed-out minds.

Pace Domnlui, Beloved of Christ.

Oh, and Happy Thursday

His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility (Ephesians 2:15-16).

Those who were bound by legality

and 

those who were lost to licentiousness

brought together

at the cross

and made new,

bought and 

paid for and

finally 

forever 

free. 

Thank you, Jesus

and

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations (Ephesians 2:15).

Now wait a minute, Paul.

Jesus himself said, Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17).

So…

Beloved, you know I’m not a Bible scholar, but this is how it seems to me:

The Law is good. God created it, and if Man could live by the Law, it would indeed save him.

But

man couldn’t…not even for a little bit. So the Law became a wall dividing men from God, and dividing Jews from everyone else.

When Jesus came and lived the Law to perfection, he became the only one ever to earn Heaven on his own merit. When he died on the cross, paying a price he didn’t have to pay, he completed the process of atonement that no one else could complete.

Hence, It is finished.

So it seems to me that when Paul talks of abolishing the Law, he is speaking of those effects of the Law that separate us, the “commandments and regulations” that kept people divided into camps.

Jesus died and rose to knock down walls.

So, let them fall.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…(Ephesians 2:14)

Jew and Gentile

Insider and Outsider

Us and Them

Paul is specifically talking about the separation between Israel and the Gentiles here, showing that Christ’s sacrifice has given everyone equal access to God’s kingdom. But it applies across the board, does it not? Race, gender, age, politics, socioeconomic status–none of the things that divide us matters if we belong to Jesus.

And none of the things that unite us matters if we don’t.

Do you belong to Jesus? Then you are my brother or sister. The differences between us may be real, but they are insignificant in the light of his love for us.

If we can just carry that attitude into our world today, what can we accomplish?

Let’s find out.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

As we move toward Thanksgiving, I’m going to take a look at one of my favorite worship songs.  It’s written by Don Moen.  Part of it is Scripture; all of it is scriptural.  Feel free to sing along!

Give thanks with a grateful heart.                                                      

Give thanks to the Holy One. 

Give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.

Are you thankful today, Beloved?  Do you even have time to stop and think of all you have to be thankful for? Or are you so busy preparing your house or your travel plans that preparing your heart has slipped down the list? Even worse–has your Christmas to-do list leapfrogged Thanksgiving entirely?  Look, I’m not judging; I know you’ve got a lot to do.  Myself, I’m looking at a garage that needs to be cleaned–I’ve been putting it off for eighteen months now–just so I can get to the Christmas lights, most of which are broken, if I remember correctly.  I have a vague memory of an entire string of lights falling from the roof last January, resulting in a string of mini-explosions and a decision that I would replace all the lights “Next year,” when finances would undoubtedly be better, except they’re not.  So I’ve probably gotta buy lights, and garland, and maybe a lawn elf–but no inflatables, I’m passionately against inflatables–before I can even start decorating, and some of the neighbors are done already…

Yeah, so I get it.

But, for those of us in Christ, the One we give thanks for next Thursday is the same One we celebrate at Christmas.  It’s pretty much the same holiday; you just have to swap funny hats.

Of course, you know that already…you’re a bright one.

So, hey, take time this week–like today, like right now–to stop and breathe and give thanks.  

For him

For you and him

Happy Monday, Beloved.

For he himself is our peace…(Ephesians 2:14)

It isn’t so much that he brings peace

or makes peace

or counsels peace

or helps you find peace

or teaches peace…though he does all those things.

He is peace.

Now, that’s a big concept for me to get my heart around, but I’m going to try today. Frankly, it simplifies things somewhat:

Stressed? Turn to Jesus.

Frightened? Turn to Jesus.

Angry? Turn to Jesus.

Lonely? Turn to Jesus.

Confused? Turn to Jesus.

Sad? Turn to Jesus.

I think this might be the ultimate life-simplification strategy.

Walk in Christ today, Beloved.

Happy Friday

But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ  (Ephesians 2:13).

What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can bring me through an endless wasteland of darkness and emptiness and loneliness and despair and shame and grief and guilt and sorrow and pain and loss and bring me to the One who loves me?

You guessed it.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)–remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:11-12).

Well, now…that’s uplifting, ya?

Paul is talking to the Gentiles here, those who were not born into Israel and therefore did not share in Israel’s promise under the Old Covenant. But frankly, I can’t help personalizing this, because I’m just that egocentric. I can’t read this passage without remembering my own life B.C.  I was outside, I was separate from Christ, I was excluded, I was without hope and without God.

As were you

Don’t worry–there’s an A.D, to follow the B.C.

But we’re not going there today.

Today,  just spend a little time remembering who you were, where you were, what you were, before the Lord of the Universe stepped in. I know it stings, but it’s good for us.

You’ll thank me later.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

The steps are laid out.

All you have to do is walk.

If you follow God’s lead, you will do good things. You will make this world a better place. You don’t have to agonize over what to do…He’s got it all planned.

No, Beloved, that does not make you a robot. It makes you an independent person with free will who chooses to follow a path laid out by the Expert.

Or chooses not to

But let me ask you this: is it a good idea to jump off the roller coaster mid-ride?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…(Ephesians 2:10)

“Aha! See, I told you it’s about works!”

Well, of course it is

and

no it isn’t.

Beloved, Jesus does not love you because of what you do. That, quite frankly, is a lie from the pit of hell that will torment you if you let it. Please do not undo God’s loving grace over one phrase.

However,

God did not create the unique, complex, individually awesome and talented you just so you can sit and watch the world go by. He created you to do stuff.

And you probably already are.

So, here’s a thought for my friends who get caught up in the need to do more and build more and be more…which is probably most of us. This verse does not just apply to serving meals in a soup kitchen or building houses in another country or teaching children overseas–though those are all wonderful things that God may have for you. This verse also applies to the kind word spoken in passing. It applies to an honest day’s work that benefits others. It applies to raising children that will follow Christ. It applies to studying hard to learn and build a God-honoring future.

Beloved, you will have epic moments, but you will have far more mundane moments.

Make them count.

Happy Friday, Beloved.