The dividing wall

He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.  â€” Ephesians 2:14

November 9, 2010, marked the 21st anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. On that day in 1989, an announcement over East German TV informed people that they were free to travel to West Germany. A day later, East German bulldozers began to dismantle the wall that for 28 years had divided East and West Germany.

Jesus Christ “has broken down the middle wall of separation” between Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:14). But there was an even more impenetrable barrier that separated man from God. Jesus’ death and resurrection made the reconciliation between man and man and between man and God possible (v.16).

All believers are now “members of the household of God” (v.19). Together, we are to grow into “a holy temple in the Lord” (v.21) with God’s Holy Spirit living among and within us (v.22).

But sadly, Christians often re-erect walls between one another. That is why Paul urges us to “walk worthy of the calling . . . , bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (4:1-3). Rather than building walls, let’s work to dismantle what separates us. Let the world see that we are indeed of the same household.                              — C. P. Hia

We’re members of Christ’s body,

A blessed family;

So let’s not fight or quarrel,

But live in harmony. — Fitzhugh  

READ: Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:1-3

Unity among believers comes from their union with Christ.

The Bible in one year:

• 2 Samuel 6-8; Luke 15:1-10