January 1 message
Ruth Persons
Happy New Year! Let this year be the year we shine like Jesus, the Light of the World. Thank God for Paul and letting the Ephesians know that Gentiles are now to be included in the body of Christ. This is the reason that Christmas can come for everyone.
Without this, we might not be here today worshiping. We may not even know God. Wandering around this world – lost.
Paul states he is a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles. That means us. Would we go to prison for our faith? Not let it be taken or fade away with time.
I’m going to back up a bit and read a couple of verses from the end of Chapter 2 to hear Paul’s understanding of the mystery of Christ that he revealed.
Ephesians 2:12 – 16 (one in Christ)
Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.
Verses 14 and 15 stood out for me: "For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us." Why then do humans keep putting up dividing walls?
Some people have fences around their yard or live in gated communities. Is it to keep animals out and people in or animals in and people out? I can understand a farmer keeping his/her livestock in a fenced enclosure. Easier to keep predators out and not lose many because the sheep, cows or other animals have wandered off somewhere. It minimizes the time they spend searching for the lost one or two. While writing this, it dawned on me that we will all end up in a gated community. This is because Heaven has twelve gates. The ropes for the waiting line at banks, are they dividing “walls”? Possibly. They divide the incoming from the outgoing patrons. Even the walls of buildings divide the inside from the outside area. Our personal space of three feet could also be a wall. We do not want people to cross into “our” space.
Let us turn to the hostility part of that verse. Why do we let hostility in? A friend of mine tells me I can go from 0 to 60 in under 1 second. I hope that none of you have ever seen me in that state. I try not to go into hostility mode. There are those days when she knows exactly where that button of mine is. Usually, it happens when she is having a panic attack and not listening to what I am saying. When in panic mode, she starts talking over me. I cannot get a word in edgewise. Upset people cannot see or think clearly. She only stops talking when I hit “hostility.” I do not think raising my voice to snap her out of her current frame of mind is hostility, but that is how she perceives it. Unfortunately, I cause her harm because the louder voice triggers her PTSD. She has missed the frustration in my voice before the “hostility”. Some people make it tough to stay graceful, peaceful, or even diplomatic. It is like they are testing me to see where the line or button is to make me stumble, falter and fail to act like Jesus. How did Jesus stay so calm? I can only remember Jesus getting mad once when he turned over the merchant’s tables at the temple. I remember more times God got mad at the people of Israel in the Old Testament. Sometimes I don’t know where my own line is until I have (or someone else has) crossed it. OH, there it is! Are you like me? Do you have various levels of tolerance for different topics? Think of your body as a gauge by which to measure tolerance. If the line for a topic is near your feet, you have low tolerance for that subject. For a different issue, the line may be more towards the middle of your body. You have more tolerance for that issue. Example of low tolerance for me is domestic violence which is near my feet. And the abuser better beware of me if I find out.
The second part of verse 15: that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace. Maybe that explains why Methodists over the centuries have split, come together and branch out again. It is a cycle of keeping peace among God’s children. Did your wall go up? Not wanting to think about separation or staying together. Why are we afraid of change? It gets us out of our groove of doing the same thing over and over. Otherwise known as our comfort zone. Sometimes switching gears is what we need to do to make a change positive.
In the Lord’s prayer we pray “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” None of us have been to heaven. How do we know what is done in Heaven? We know because we have the instruction book! The Bible tells us how we should act and care for one another.
From the hymn “Shine, Jesus Shine"... "flood the nations with grace and mercy, send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light." Some days I feel like the only time I shine light is when I use a flashlight while walking my dogs in the yard before the sun comes up or after it goes down. I need to be able to shine the Light of Christ Jesus wherever I go no matter what time of day or night it is. Thank you to those who sent my husband and me Christmas cards. Especially the ones with notes inside. One that we received thanked me for the card ministry I do. I do not often think about sending cards as an area of shining light. Thank you for the reminder! Part of my spiritual growth plan for this year is to shine light no matter where I am. Do you have a spiritual growth plan? Do you want a deeper personal relationship with God?
Spiritual direction can help with that. Do you know there is a Spiritual Directors International (SDI) professional organization that was formed in 1990? It now encompasses many faith traditions, has a website that includes ethical standards for spiritual directors and a list of spiritual directors around the world for those interested in finding a spiritual director in their area. The “SDI holds an annual conference, publishes a quarterly magazine, books on spiritual direction, and training of spiritual directors”. Spiritual direction “directly assists individuals in developing and cultivating their personal relationship with God”. “Directors do not create relationships between God and their directees; they try to foster such relationships." This is what I will be learning to do in the Tending the Soul course over the next two years. Hopefully deepening my relationship with God along the way. Currently my relationship is a bit one-sided. I speak and pray to God, but I have trouble in the listening department. It feels like my receiver works intermittently.
Note - Quotes from The Practice of Spiritual Direction, William A. Barry and William J. Connolly
Now back to today’s scripture. Paul was under house arrest in Rome for preaching about Christ. The religious leaders in Jerusalem, who felt threatened by Christ’s teachings and didn’t believe he was the Messiah, pressured the Romans to arrest Paul and bring him to trial for treason and for causing rebellion among the Jews. Paul had appealed for his case to be heard by the emperor, and he was awaiting trial (See Acts 28:16-31). Even though he was under arrest, Paul maintained his firm belief that God was in control of all history, including all that happened to him. Do circumstances make you wonder if God has lost control of this world? Like Paul, remember that no matter what happens, God directs the world’s affairs, and he carefully watches over you. Paul’s “special responsibility” refers to the special stewardship, trust, or commitment that Paul had been given. He had been assigned the special work of preaching the Good News to the Gentiles. God had shown this great plan to Paul in a revelation (see Acts 26:15-18) and had given Paul the grace and authority to fulfill it (Ephesians 3:9). God had not revealed his plan to previous generations. He was not simply withholding something from his people, but he intended to reveal it to everyone when the timing was perfect. God planned to have Jews and Gentiles form one body, the church. The Old Testament revealed that the Gentiles would receive salvation (Isaiah 49:6) but it did not reveal that all Gentile and Jewish believers would share equally in the community of believers, the body of Christ. Yet this equality was accomplished when Jesus destroyed the “wall of hostility” and created “one new people” (Ephesians 2:14-15). When Paul became his servant, God gave him the ability to share the gospel of Christ effectively. You are not an apostle, and you may not be a professional evangelist, but God will give you opportunities to tell others about Christ. With the opportunities he will also provide the ability, courage, and power you need. Make yourself available to God as his servant whenever an opportunity to tell others about him presents itself. As you focus on another person and his or her needs, God will communicate his love through your caring attitude and actions. Filled with God’s Spirit, your words will be natural, loving, and compelling.
When Paul described himself as “the least deserving of all God’s people,” he meant that without God’s help, he would never be able to do God’s work. Yet God had chosen him to share the amazing treasure of the Good News with the Gentiles and had given him the power to do it. If we feel that our roles are minor, we may be right – except that we have forgotten what a difference God makes. How does God want to use you? Draw on his power, do your part, and faithfully perform the special role God had called you to play in his plan. The phrase “rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” refers to both the angels who are witnesses to God’s unfolding plan through Jesus Christ (see 1 Peter 1:12) and to the spiritual forces opposed to God (Ephesians 2:6-12). We have the awesome privilege of being able to approach God with freedom and confidence. Most of us would be apprehensive in the presence of a powerful ruler. But thanks to Christ, by faith we can enter directly into God’s presence through prayer (see Ephesians 2:18, Hebrews 4:16). We know we will be welcomed with open arms because we are God’s children through our union with Christ. Don’t be afraid of God. Talk with him about everything. He wants to hear from you. Amen.
Without this, we might not be here today worshiping. We may not even know God. Wandering around this world – lost.
Paul states he is a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles. That means us. Would we go to prison for our faith? Not let it be taken or fade away with time.
I’m going to back up a bit and read a couple of verses from the end of Chapter 2 to hear Paul’s understanding of the mystery of Christ that he revealed.
Ephesians 2:12 – 16 (one in Christ)
Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.
Verses 14 and 15 stood out for me: "For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us." Why then do humans keep putting up dividing walls?
Some people have fences around their yard or live in gated communities. Is it to keep animals out and people in or animals in and people out? I can understand a farmer keeping his/her livestock in a fenced enclosure. Easier to keep predators out and not lose many because the sheep, cows or other animals have wandered off somewhere. It minimizes the time they spend searching for the lost one or two. While writing this, it dawned on me that we will all end up in a gated community. This is because Heaven has twelve gates. The ropes for the waiting line at banks, are they dividing “walls”? Possibly. They divide the incoming from the outgoing patrons. Even the walls of buildings divide the inside from the outside area. Our personal space of three feet could also be a wall. We do not want people to cross into “our” space.
Let us turn to the hostility part of that verse. Why do we let hostility in? A friend of mine tells me I can go from 0 to 60 in under 1 second. I hope that none of you have ever seen me in that state. I try not to go into hostility mode. There are those days when she knows exactly where that button of mine is. Usually, it happens when she is having a panic attack and not listening to what I am saying. When in panic mode, she starts talking over me. I cannot get a word in edgewise. Upset people cannot see or think clearly. She only stops talking when I hit “hostility.” I do not think raising my voice to snap her out of her current frame of mind is hostility, but that is how she perceives it. Unfortunately, I cause her harm because the louder voice triggers her PTSD. She has missed the frustration in my voice before the “hostility”. Some people make it tough to stay graceful, peaceful, or even diplomatic. It is like they are testing me to see where the line or button is to make me stumble, falter and fail to act like Jesus. How did Jesus stay so calm? I can only remember Jesus getting mad once when he turned over the merchant’s tables at the temple. I remember more times God got mad at the people of Israel in the Old Testament. Sometimes I don’t know where my own line is until I have (or someone else has) crossed it. OH, there it is! Are you like me? Do you have various levels of tolerance for different topics? Think of your body as a gauge by which to measure tolerance. If the line for a topic is near your feet, you have low tolerance for that subject. For a different issue, the line may be more towards the middle of your body. You have more tolerance for that issue. Example of low tolerance for me is domestic violence which is near my feet. And the abuser better beware of me if I find out.
The second part of verse 15: that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace. Maybe that explains why Methodists over the centuries have split, come together and branch out again. It is a cycle of keeping peace among God’s children. Did your wall go up? Not wanting to think about separation or staying together. Why are we afraid of change? It gets us out of our groove of doing the same thing over and over. Otherwise known as our comfort zone. Sometimes switching gears is what we need to do to make a change positive.
In the Lord’s prayer we pray “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” None of us have been to heaven. How do we know what is done in Heaven? We know because we have the instruction book! The Bible tells us how we should act and care for one another.
From the hymn “Shine, Jesus Shine"... "flood the nations with grace and mercy, send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light." Some days I feel like the only time I shine light is when I use a flashlight while walking my dogs in the yard before the sun comes up or after it goes down. I need to be able to shine the Light of Christ Jesus wherever I go no matter what time of day or night it is. Thank you to those who sent my husband and me Christmas cards. Especially the ones with notes inside. One that we received thanked me for the card ministry I do. I do not often think about sending cards as an area of shining light. Thank you for the reminder! Part of my spiritual growth plan for this year is to shine light no matter where I am. Do you have a spiritual growth plan? Do you want a deeper personal relationship with God?
Spiritual direction can help with that. Do you know there is a Spiritual Directors International (SDI) professional organization that was formed in 1990? It now encompasses many faith traditions, has a website that includes ethical standards for spiritual directors and a list of spiritual directors around the world for those interested in finding a spiritual director in their area. The “SDI holds an annual conference, publishes a quarterly magazine, books on spiritual direction, and training of spiritual directors”. Spiritual direction “directly assists individuals in developing and cultivating their personal relationship with God”. “Directors do not create relationships between God and their directees; they try to foster such relationships." This is what I will be learning to do in the Tending the Soul course over the next two years. Hopefully deepening my relationship with God along the way. Currently my relationship is a bit one-sided. I speak and pray to God, but I have trouble in the listening department. It feels like my receiver works intermittently.
Note - Quotes from The Practice of Spiritual Direction, William A. Barry and William J. Connolly
Now back to today’s scripture. Paul was under house arrest in Rome for preaching about Christ. The religious leaders in Jerusalem, who felt threatened by Christ’s teachings and didn’t believe he was the Messiah, pressured the Romans to arrest Paul and bring him to trial for treason and for causing rebellion among the Jews. Paul had appealed for his case to be heard by the emperor, and he was awaiting trial (See Acts 28:16-31). Even though he was under arrest, Paul maintained his firm belief that God was in control of all history, including all that happened to him. Do circumstances make you wonder if God has lost control of this world? Like Paul, remember that no matter what happens, God directs the world’s affairs, and he carefully watches over you. Paul’s “special responsibility” refers to the special stewardship, trust, or commitment that Paul had been given. He had been assigned the special work of preaching the Good News to the Gentiles. God had shown this great plan to Paul in a revelation (see Acts 26:15-18) and had given Paul the grace and authority to fulfill it (Ephesians 3:9). God had not revealed his plan to previous generations. He was not simply withholding something from his people, but he intended to reveal it to everyone when the timing was perfect. God planned to have Jews and Gentiles form one body, the church. The Old Testament revealed that the Gentiles would receive salvation (Isaiah 49:6) but it did not reveal that all Gentile and Jewish believers would share equally in the community of believers, the body of Christ. Yet this equality was accomplished when Jesus destroyed the “wall of hostility” and created “one new people” (Ephesians 2:14-15). When Paul became his servant, God gave him the ability to share the gospel of Christ effectively. You are not an apostle, and you may not be a professional evangelist, but God will give you opportunities to tell others about Christ. With the opportunities he will also provide the ability, courage, and power you need. Make yourself available to God as his servant whenever an opportunity to tell others about him presents itself. As you focus on another person and his or her needs, God will communicate his love through your caring attitude and actions. Filled with God’s Spirit, your words will be natural, loving, and compelling.
When Paul described himself as “the least deserving of all God’s people,” he meant that without God’s help, he would never be able to do God’s work. Yet God had chosen him to share the amazing treasure of the Good News with the Gentiles and had given him the power to do it. If we feel that our roles are minor, we may be right – except that we have forgotten what a difference God makes. How does God want to use you? Draw on his power, do your part, and faithfully perform the special role God had called you to play in his plan. The phrase “rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” refers to both the angels who are witnesses to God’s unfolding plan through Jesus Christ (see 1 Peter 1:12) and to the spiritual forces opposed to God (Ephesians 2:6-12). We have the awesome privilege of being able to approach God with freedom and confidence. Most of us would be apprehensive in the presence of a powerful ruler. But thanks to Christ, by faith we can enter directly into God’s presence through prayer (see Ephesians 2:18, Hebrews 4:16). We know we will be welcomed with open arms because we are God’s children through our union with Christ. Don’t be afraid of God. Talk with him about everything. He wants to hear from you. Amen.