Knowing God - Ephesians 2:14
For [Christ] is our peace;
in his flesh he has ...
broken down the dividing wall ...
Ephesians 2:14
Look at all these dots -- ...
In Ephesians 2, all those dots reflect one of the dividing walls which Christ has torn down -- the divisions between Jews and Gentiles.
There are clearly many, many, many more dividing walls in our lives. And Christ is our peace and he wants them down. Listen to the freedom that this little babe of Bethlehem came to bring us ...
- "Christ is our peace" and "in him ... we have forgiveness" (Eph 1:7); therefore, the walls of bitterness are torn down.
- "Christ is our peace" and "in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead" (Acts 4:2); therefore, the walls of death are torn down.
- "Christ is our peace" and "in him [is] no shame" (Rom 9:33); therefore, the walls of bondage are torn down.
- "Christ is our peace" and "in him [is] redemption through his blood" (Eph 1:7); therefore, the walls of hopelessness are torn down.
- "Christ is our peace" and "in him [is] the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, and [the]mark of the promised Holy Spirit" (Eph 1:13); therefore, the walls formed by lies and deceit are torn down.
- "Christ is our peace" and "in him all things hold together" (Col 1:17); therefore, the walls of impossibility are torn down.
- "Christ is our peace" and "in Christ [is] free[dom] from the law" (Rom 8:2); therefore, the walls of legalism are torn down.
- "Christ is our peace" and "in Christ Jesus [is the] guard[ing of] your hearts and minds" (Phil 4:7); therefore, the walls of meaningless are torn down.
- "Christ is our peace" and "in him [is] light" (John 1:4); therefore, the looming walls that create shadows and darkness are torn down.
- Indeed, "Christ is our peace" and "in him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5); therefore, even the mountain walls that create a valley of the shadow of death will be torn down!
What's the wall you want down?
Deconstruction may just be your Advent Adventure. And freedom may just be your fruit.
In Christ's Love,
a wrecking ball
(let's get the walls down)
----------------------------------------Walls. If I could build physical walls as well as I build these figurative walls around my heart, I'd have a booming business. The past couple of days have shown some very small, yet evident, cracks in my wall. Problem is - whenever I begin to form cracks I tend to get out the spackle or cement and get to repairing them.
Walls are safe. They protect against vulnerability and hurt. But they also keep everyone out and it is a lonely place. Often though being lonely is safer than tearing down walls.
What is the wall I want down? None. It's too painful.
What is the wall I need down? All of them - bitterness, death, bondage, hopelessness, lies, deceit, impossibility, legalism, meaninglessness - all of them.
But as light comes in, the shadows that are formed as the darkness begins to subside can oftentimes be scarier than the pitch black darkness.
Labels: Advent, Know God, Pastor's devos
posted by Chris K at
01:33
9 Comments:
Be drawn to the light and never look at the shadow.
And then make a decision. Do I want a wall to come down or not. Only you know and no one can do it for you. There is no magic word or pill. All of PE's devotions are instructions for tearing the wall down and walking the path with Jesus. But we each have to honestly make the decision to do so. It like dieting or addiction. Wanting to be healed doesn't magically make the underlying issues go away. But one day, you hit your limit, you have had enough, you will go the distance, not give in to temptation and be what you want to be. If you don't want to go home to your beautiful family, tear the wall down. If you can't sleep because of the demons in your mind, take the wall down and replace it with something that brings you comfort and peace. And be ready for the fight the demons (satan) will put up when its easier to succumb than change. Winning the battle is well worth the fight. Once you find the light you will never seek the darkness again. God Bless you. If I could hold your hand and drag you to the light I would.
Hiding behind the wall is safe and familiar. Honestly, I don't know if I am strong enough for the wall to come down. I know I will fail. I don't diet because when given strict rules and 'don't do's' I rebel against them. I also know that I can't follow through like I know I should and I was taught that if I can't do something right the first time, don't bother doing it.
I have experienced the light. It was peaceful and joyful and amazing. Then the light slowly faded and darkness returned. I didn't seek it. But I didn't have the strength to fight it either. It just surrounds and envelopes me. The negative thoughts come unbidden. Automatic. That isn't something that can just be easily replaced.
very few people do anything right the first time. practice. try again. practice. try again. thats life's pattern. to never try is to never succeed. the only thing in life i don't need to practice is all my mistakes. they come naturally. but i try to learn from them. that is the only way i know to grow.
who are you?
who am I? one of those who you fear to talk to in person. so i peeked around the wall and found you here.
so - not telling me who you are. you read this and know that trust - or lack there of - is something I am battling. don't you think that this is one way of perpetuating this?
i apologize if i add to your burden. i mean no wrong intent. my only intent in talking with you is for you to know there is a friend who wants nothing but healing and blessings for you. by not knowing who i am, you may view every face you see as a kind heart.
the issue of trust has never been discussed by us here until now. to my face you said you have a hard time opening up to people because of trust issues. when you see me, the "veil of safety" comes over your face. but here, for the whole world to see, you feel safe. that is why i searched for you here. i have no intent to be anything but a positive sounding board. if you would prefer for me never to respond, i would honor that choice.
but remember. you journal on a public domain. anyone in the world can journey into your life. will you ever establish a relationship of trust in this way? when you make it through this season of testing, i want to embrace you, look in your eyes and see the veil is gone and tell you i am your friend who is not going to leave you. but if i tell you this in the season you are in, the veil will close on this stage as well. so for now, i have a name. it is "anonymous with love"
my purpose in writing you is only as a positive sounding board. i have no intent of causing you further issues or more pain. you told me that you have a problem opening up face to face, and when i see you, i see the veil drop over your face. but i searched and found you here. in your comfort zone. and you open up freely. if you know who i am, the veil will drop again. and by not knowing, there is the possibility that everyone you walk by could be the one who cares.
you write on a public domain. anyone in the world could read what you write. i doubt that this will ever be the avenue to work on trust issues. but if responding is causing more harm than good, i will stop responding.
at some point, when things are easier for you, i will tell you who i am. but for now i would rather you just know that an anonymous face in the crowd wishes healing for you
I just found the last 2 comments in the spam folder. Yes - opening up face to face is difficult. nearly impossible. I like writing. This forum gives me a place to write, express my thoughts, in a way that is non-threatening, non-confrontational. I can say what I want to say without interruption. I can ignore comments or respond to them. And I can always password protect the blog to control who has access. But - I believe that there have to be others hurting like I do out there, but have no way of expressing what they feel or think.
Keep commenting ... please.
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Speak gently. carefully. thoughtfully. graciously. humbly.
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