Conflict Builds Walls That Hide God From Others

Ephesians 2:13-14 -   But now you belong to Christ Jesus, and though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought very near to him because of what Jesus Christ has done for you with his blood.  For Christ himself is our way of peace. He has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one family, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us. 

Paul uses loving words to remind the church that grace and love are supposed to rule our hearts in all we do. The wall he dealt with was between Jews and Gentiles….rituals and rules verses grace and mercy.  He was telling them it was time to tear down the wall between them and work together to build God’s kingdom….good words for all of us to still live by today.

It seems lately that I read more about building new walls of contempt instead of letting God’s love tear them completely down.  Satan is working overtime at convincing people we have to take sides…instead of trust God to work all things for the good like He promised. Government is not God…but I remember a scripture that quoted Christ’s viewpoint on it.  He sent Peter to retrieve a coin from a fish so they could pay taxes…even though He knew he should be exempt from them. Read Matthew 17 for that complete story.  Another time Jesus explained to the people trying to trick Him…. to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and God’s what is God’s. Read Mark 12 if you don’t remember that story.

God allows choice…our love is suppose to drive us to do the right thing.  But satan has twisted that concept into something ugly …controlled by man…not God. We have become nation of people that want to control others with rules again. We have forgotten the concept of grace…we have forgotten that all bad choices are used by God to bring about good….we are trying to control the outcomes ourselves…instead of depending on God to work things out in His timing.

It is a loud reminder to me that choice doesn’t call for us to cram our beliefs onto others…or force our interpretation of the Bible onto all we meet. It calls for us to love and serve God…and be an example that others want to follow.  God knows all the issues...and he alone knows how allowing them in the first place works into His plan for His world. We are not helping Him add to the kingdom by taking sides….or trying to control the rules man made. God’s law will be upheld in the end….I read the rest of the story.

Father…thank you for the reminder that clarifies how I should handle all the issues that have recently escalated into fights between your people.  Forgive me for even thinking about which side to take…and letting seeds of confusion be planted that will eventually build a wall that prevents me from telling others about you. Help me to stay focused on you…not the issues that you allow to teach me how to trust only you. Help me be patient and wait for you to tear down every wall that is built to hide the truth from all who are lost.  Amen.