11/30/2021
The law, and the covenant of Abraham are fulfilled in Christ, and for us only faith in God and Jesus Christ, founded in love, identifies us as God’s children. We have no mark, nor altering of our flesh, that sets us apart from one another, because in Christ all men, Jew and Gentile alike, are made one by our faith, and by God’s love that has been instilled in us. Are we loving God, Jesus Christ, and one another, as we should, and has our undying faith in God, and His Son, made us righteous… even holy?
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
Galatians 5:6 ESV
Beginning with the birth of Jesus a new and powerful relationship was kindled with God, and on Calvary that relationship burst into a flame that licked up all sin as it lit and warmed the world. The original division that had separated Jew from Gentile, those twelve jars of water which had been poured on the meat and altar, and that stifled the belief in one true faith, and God, for all mankind, was overcome by the Holy Fire of the Lord.
“And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.””
1 Kings 18:36-39 ESV
Are we still using encumbrances like the law, and circumcision, as a means of dividing us, or have we exchanged these for religion and liturgy, as obstacles to separate ourselves, the Church? Well it’s time to pour whatever separates us like the water of Elijah over the altar of the world, and let God, by His Holy Fire consume them as he calls us all to Him through Jesus… who has established us in love, and faith, and by whom we are meant to acknowledge our salvation, and redemption, forevermore.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8, 10 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus who obediently endured the suffering, and death upon the cross that the sins of the world would be overcome, and that the love and faith of mankind could unite us as one through Him. Help us Holy Father to come together as Christ’s bride, becoming one flesh with Him, and one Church as we worship you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has given us the gift of your love, and called us to faith in your Son Jesus. Praised be your name Lord for every walk and division that is conquered. Help us to overcome what separates us as we gather to you; one people before one God. Wash away the sin that separates us from you by cleansing us with the blood of Christ, and use His body and blood to reunite us as one Church founded on love, and one in our faith. In this way call us your children, and seat us as one family at your table forevermore.
“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
Ephesians 2:11-16 ESV
Rich Forbes