[Christ Jesus] himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. - Ephesians 2:14 (NIV)

When my daughters were younger, they shared a bedroom. Most days, they viewed it as some sort of horrible punishment, and one day they’d had all they could take. When I walked into their room, I saw that they had placed a thick line of gray tape right down the middle of the room, leaving one half for each of them. The visual implication was clear: don’t come across the line because what is over here belongs to me. I pulled up the tape dividing wall and reminded my daughters that they are part of one family — even in disagreements, we are still one.

The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus to remind them that Jews and Gentiles have been reconciled together through Jesus and that in Christ we are all one family: “He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” Jesus did this through his death on the cross, bringing peace to humanity and reconciliation with God. As children of God, may we tear down the dividing walls of hostility and the barriers that are separating us today!

Today's Prayer
Gracious and loving God, thank you for removing the barriers that divide us from one another and separate us from you. Help us to live in harmony with one another through the peace that you have offered us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Amen

Amen.

Amen

Amen

Amen!