Ministers of Reconciliation

Ephesians 2:14-16 says, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility” (NIV). Though Paul is specifically talking about Jews and Gentiles, he is also speaking about us. If we aren’t Jewish, then we are Gentiles. We were “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12, NIV). 

We were nobodies, speeding down the road of destruction that ended in separation from our Creator until God sent Jesus to reconcile us through his death on the cross. We did nothing to earn this or deserve it—he did it out of his love for us. He did so, not only that we would be reconciled to God, but that we would be reconciled to one another. Jesus is our peace who builds bridges of unity by destroying walls of hostility.

He commissions us to carry on his work of reconciliation to reconcile the world to Christ. When the world is reconciled to Christ, they can also be reconciled to one another. This means that our work is not to be right, to win arguments, to share our opinions, or to lash out on social media. These build walls of hostility that Jesus died to destroy. Christ’s very work on this earth was to create a new people who carry on his work of reconciliation. As the Body of Christ, we must do whatever it takes to reconcile people to their Father who loves them.

We must start asking ourselves: “Will this build a bridge, or build a wall?” When we enter into conversations, when we scroll through social media, when we speak to co-workers, when we share our opinion or perspective, when we develop relationships. Every day we have opportunities to build walls or build bridges. What are you building?

Reflection/Discussion Question: Take an honest look at the way you’ve been interacting with others. Are you building bridges or building walls?