READ
Ephesians 2:11-22
CONSIDER
Every member of our family might have different personalities and temperaments and the differences sometimes cause tension. Some families are happy together despite the differences among them, while some are very messy and chaotic. I believe it depends on how each member of the family respond to the differences and embrace the tension.
This week, we are going to read Ephesians 2:11-22. I suggest you read the whole Chapter 2 in entirety. The first half of the Chapter 2 focuses on salvation by grace through faith. Even though Paul uses the plural “You”, the first half most often is read from the individual perspective as the salvation is individual. The plural “You” is more about the multiple individuals. However, the second half of Chapter 2 can only be read from the communal perspective, and everyone relates to each other. It tells us what is the essential for us to move from ‘ME’ to ‘WE’; it is our Lord Jesus Christ ‘HE’. He is the one who made the divided into one, reconciled the ones who were enemies, and joined us together and grow together to become the Holy Temple where the Holy Spirit dwells into.
I encourage you all to dive deeply into Ephesians Chapter 2 and reflect on how Jesus Christ brings us together as a family. We are different but we are one in Christ.
Pastor Julian Wong
PRAY
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the gift of salvation and the gift of the family. Thank you for what You have done to us so that we come together as a family despite our differences. Amid the differences among each of one, may the Holy Spirit guide us to focus on Jesus as our foundation and cornerstone. May we remember we are not just individuals but one family in Christ. Give us the humble heart to listen and learn from each other and the courage and the power to love unconditionally like how Jesus loves us. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
DIVING DEEPER
As we continue to build an intergenerational, missional and disciple-making community, reflect on how we embrace the cultural, language, and generational differences? Are we using the worldly wisdom especially the individualistic North American culture to respond to thedifferences or do we see the church family as one in Christ?
How is the Holy Spirit empowering us to imitate Christ in what we DO this week so that we truly live as a Christ-Centered community?