February 1 | Ephesians 2:11-22

Elaine Pierce
Feb 1
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

God's Citizenship

By Elaine Pierce

Our daughter in law was born in England. She and our son met while they were both teaching in Hong Kong. About 7 years ago they moved back to the States. Samantha recently became a U.S. citizen, but she kept her British citizenship. She told me that she loves America, but she will always be from England. That makes her a dual citizen.

We gentiles were once 'separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (v. 12).' What happened? Verse 13 makes it clear: 'now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.' I suppose we are dual citizens, too. Verse 19 reminds us where our true citizenship lies: 'you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household.'

And what is the point of our citizenship in Christ? We have access to the Father through the Holy Spirit. The doors of heaven, of eternal life, are open to all people - Jews, Gentiles, and, yes, people who look differently from us, who have different customs, different traditions, different languages. We get caught up in the outward differences, but Christ beckons all who call on him to come to him and receive what only he can give them.

Paul wrote this letter to the church at Ephesus from prison. His prison was an earthly one, but he knew where his true home was, and that Jesus' purpose was to break down walls of hostility between people and to bring peace. We look around at our world today, and peace seems in short supply. Jesus reminds his followers in John 14:27 that true peace can only come through him: 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.'

Let's clasp our heavenly citizenship papers close to our hearts, and let's thank God for his gift of grace and love. And let's look for opportunities to welcome others into this citizenship of God's love, forgiveness, and eternal life.

PRAYER

Lord, so often I want worldly peace. I am filled with despair when I watch the nightly news. Our world is filled with violence, death and anger. Help me to look to you, to remind myself that this world is temporary, and that one day you will restore your kingdom, and there will be no more death, no more tears - all things will be made new. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!