Devotion- Jesus for ALL

Ephesians 2: 11-22

Epistle Lesson for the Sunday July 18th

A darker part of the human heart Insists on categorizing other people Exposing differences instead of similarities Creating mistrust and hostility Being a diverse group with different roots Early Christians struggled with this too Paul reminded them that God sees all of us From the inside out Beneath the differences on the outside God sees the same wounded heart Unspoken fear, and subtle greed in us The commonality is our need for a savior It is the same Jesus who died for each of us The same cross bringing the same result A bridge of reconciliation between us and God No one a stranger or alien anymore It is that redeeming gospel That provides courage enough For us to risk seeing beyond differences In order to reflect God’s love for all+ A Devotion By Rev. Donald Schaefer, Northern Region Facilitator for Mission Engagement