Reconciliation
Ephesians 2:14-15 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace. RESOURCE (link or attachment) LET US PRAY: Eternal God, you have reconciled a sinful world to yourself in Christ, and given your Church the ministry of reconciliation. In your new creation, everything old is passing away.
We confess that we have been slow to believe and follow you into the newness of your kingdom. We have feared and distrusted our brothers and sisters, allowing ourselves to be ruled by the divisions of race, gender, nation, and wealth that belong to the old order, which is passing away.
Holy and gracious God, pardon our sins and free our captive imaginations. Renew us in the power of your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Source – Center for Christian Ethics, Baylor University) After reading today’s scripture, prayer, and resource, reflect…
How can we better bring blacks and whites together into one body?
The article quotes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s call for the Church to be more of a thermostat instead of a thermometer. What does that mean to you?
Are there areas of reconciliation in our own life that we should address if we’re going to live into the author’s vision of the church being “the most reconciled place in the planet”?
How do you feel God speaking to you through today’s devotion?
Be sure to journal your thoughts. We will have a collective discussion at the end of this 2-week series. If you come across an article or a video link or a prayer that is relevant to this discussion about loving our neighbors, feel free to submit it to me. Thank you!