Built Together

Amanda MacQuarrie August 28, 2024 6 4

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Ephesians 4: 14-22 (NIVUK)

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

A Kingdom,

In this world,

But not of it.

A Kingdom in this world,

But transcending the borders and confines of this world and this earthly reality.

Uniting where this world divides,

Building up what this world seeks to tear down,

Restoring what this world seeks to destroy.

A Kingdom where there is no Jew or Gentile,

No slave or free,

No male or female,

No old or young,

No them.

No us.

Only we!

Being built up together,

Living stone by living stone,

Creating a temple where the spirit of God shines out,

Where love dwells and overflows.

That this world might know a different way…

A way that transcends borders and difference,

A way that unites instead of divides,

A way that builds up rather than tears down.

A way that restores all that is broken…

In our relationships with ourselves, with one another, with creation and with God…

A way of hope, not fear.

The way of love.

Pray:

King of Kings

Give us eyes to see others as you do,

Help us to look past our differences

That we too may only see the heart.

Help us to seek the way of love that restores, builds up, makes new.

The way that means asking for forgiveness…

From ourselves, from one another, from you…

Humble us to do your will,

And may we know your grace, your mercy and your love,

That we might be restored,

That our relationship with creation might find the right balance,

And that we might put you first in our lives. Amen.