Week Three, Monday
No Longer Strangers
By Pastor Paul Georgulis
Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22
“19-22 That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.” – Ephesians 2:19-22 (The Message)
When you think of the church – or God’s house – do you think of Doylestown United Methodist Church and all of the other churches that sit empty, unable to host people for worship right now? It’s common to think of the actual church building as the church, but that’s not what the church actually is. The church is way more complex than a structure. It’s way more complex because it’s made up of people from all over the world. It’s made up of people who never met each other, and who likely will never meet each other until they get to heaven. It’s made up of strangers who are no longer strangers. In fact, this “no longer strangers” mantra is what this passage is all about.
Not only are we no longer strangers, but we are being added to the constructing of a kingdom that includes the apostles and prophets from throughout antiquity as the foundation of the building, with Jesus being the cornerstone that holds it all together. If nothing else, this should tell us that we are not alone on this faith journey, and that we walk the paths that many godly men and women once walked in their calling to bring the message of the gospel – of Jesus – to the very ends of the earth.
I don’t know about you, but knowing this empowers me to continue serving Christ to the best of my ability and to continue loving God and loving people (Mark 12:30-31), which is what all of this is all about.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for seeing value in me and using me to further your kingdom, despite my background, and despite my past, present, and future sins. I thank you for allowing me to be a part of something so great, and for being the cornerstone that holds not only my life together, but serves as my connection to all other followers of you. Thank you for making me a part of the team.
In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!
