Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
Summary: Why do we need peace? The answer has to do with how we see the world. If we are looking through the lens of our own self-interest, we are not seeing life the way God wants us to see it.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:17 – The Inner Me”… and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
Summary: The history of humanity is littered with conflict. The power of God restores peace between men.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:16 – The Death of Hostility”His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace …
Summary: God changed the rules when he instituted a new covenant in Jesus’ blood. Trying to figure out what those rules are and how to apply them has been a challenge for humanity ever since.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:15b – The Challenge”… by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.
Summary: Paul addresses a specific type of law in this passage today. Understanding the history of the law and the types of law created by God is essential to understanding Paul’s point.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:15a – New Laws and Old”… who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
Summary: Jesus can do amazing things … if we let him.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:14b – The Thing About Jesus”For he himself is our peace,
Summary: Peace is something that many of us want but not everyone agrees. Peace has a cost and not everyone is willing to pay their share. In Christ, we find a peace that is life-changing.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:14a – Peacemaker”But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage are unusually clear and direct. Enjoy them!
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:13 – A Simple Picture”… without hope and without God in the world.
Summary: Paul uses words to describe the stark contrast between life with Jesus Christ and life without Jesus. Life without Jesus is hopeless.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:12c – The Lonely Place”… excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise,
Summary: Being on the “inside” is cool. Being on the “outside” is a pain. This is a lesson that we all learn early in life.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:12b – Sour Grapes”… remember that at that time you were separate from Christ …
Summary: Paul is a unique individual. Privileged from birth, Paul was raised to be one of the elite members of society. Then he met Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 2:12a – The Gratitude Attitude”