Our scripture this morning is Ephesians 3:6-12.
“And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”
Paul writes that we are all one in God’s love. Our location, heritage, appearance and status don’t matter to our Heavenly Father, only that we love Him and one another. Jesus taught this in His interaction with the woman at the well (John 4) and the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10).
How we respond to those “who aren’t like us” is a hallmark of Christian behavior. Jesus treated everyone equally, from the Roman governor and Jewish leaders to blind beggars and lepers. No one was above or below His attention and love. He calls us to do the same for everyone we encounter in our daily lives.
Paul reminds us that “because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence” (v. 12). The only thing that can separate us from God is us. Through our acceptance of Christ as our savior, we can be born again and live in Him.
Loving Lord, we are grateful for Jesus coming to be with us, to show us Your love and forgiveness. May we treat each other as Jesus did, loving all Your children because of His love for us. Amen.