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Michelle DeRusha

Every Day Faith. Faith Every Day.

April 7, 2014 By Michelle 14 Comments

Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday: From Far to Near

We are enjoying a bit of Lenten quiet on Mondays here until Easter. I’m posting a verse, a devotion and a prayer. Peace and grace, friends…

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. (Ephesians 2:13-4)

Some of you may remember the day the Berlin Wall was torn down in November 1989. Constant news coverage depicted thousands of people with sledgehammers and axes as they crumbled the wall bit by bit, destroying a barrier that had stood between East and West Germany for nearly 30 years. It was a monumental occasion and a cause for celebration, not only in Germany but around the entire world. In place of the wall, a symbol of hostility and war, stood a group of disparate people now united in freedom.

The amazing, mind-boggling, awesome power of Christ has the capacity to do something similar among us, his people. It’s true, Christ’s death on the cross brought us closer to God as individuals, demolishing the barrier (sin) that kept us at arm’s length from him. But even more important and powerful is the freedom his love and life give us as a people united in the Body of Christ.

Christ didn’t unite just the Jews and Gentiles, he unites all of us, every last person on Earth. We are called by him to love his people, and no one is excluded, regardless of race, lifestyle or faith. There are no barriers, no separation – Christ’s love demolishes all hostilities and all walls.

So today, let’s celebrate the power of God’s love to free us and unite us together in peace. Let’s celebrate the God who makes all things possible.

Lord, you know where and against whom my hostilities are aimed. Give me the strength and humility to cross these barriers to unite with your people in peace. Amen. 

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Welcome to the Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday community, a place where we share what we are hearing from God and his Word each week. If you’re here for the first time, click here for more information.

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Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday: God Sees Us Through
Weekend One Word: Misfit

Filed Under: Use It on Monday Tagged With: Ephesians, Hear It on Sunday Use It on Monday, unity among God's people

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Holly Barrett says

    April 7, 2014 at 7:25 am

    Love this photo and devotional thought! Hope you are enjoying your Lenten respite.

    Reply
  2. lisha epperson says

    April 7, 2014 at 8:20 am

    Hi Michelle! My head is wrapped up in forgiveness lately. So this prayer.. “Lord, you know where and against whom my hostilities are aimed. Give me the strength and humility to cross these barriers to unite with your people in peace. Amen.” – is so good. Always forgiveness, Always peace. Amen. Enjoy the quiet moments you find this week.

    Reply
    • Michelle DeRusha says

      April 7, 2014 at 5:56 pm

      Thank you, Lisha – praying quiet moments for you, too!

      Reply
  3. Kathryn Ross says

    April 7, 2014 at 10:19 am

    Blessings, Michelle – so glad to be reconnecting with you and linking up again. Always blessed to do my devotionals with kindred sisters in Christ walking the walk together. God reveals so many truths about His character, purposes and ways through our stories. So blessed to share – and take joy in the sharing of others.
    Blessings!
    Kathy

    Reply
  4. Martha Orlando says

    April 7, 2014 at 10:57 am

    Such a marvelous reminder that Christ loves everyone and we should not put a wall back up where He has taken it down.
    Blessings!

    Reply
  5. Sharon says

    April 7, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    Yes, we are called to unity in the Body of Christ. I am reminded of that phrase, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” As I ponder that, it occurs to me that our unity across cultures, languages, races, and any other earthly thing that might cause division, is a huge testimony of faith. What else could account for such unity other than the resounding and unifying power of a Savior?!

    May I strive to be a wall-breaker – and not waste my time on adding bricks.

    GOD BLESS!

    Reply
  6. Judith @WholeHeartedHome says

    April 7, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    Thank you for these quiet thoughts today. Thanks too for hosting.

    Reply
  7. Dolly@Soulstops says

    April 7, 2014 at 4:49 pm

    Michelle,
    Yes…It is in Christ’s forgiveness of our sins, and our unity is a result of what He did for us …yes, peace with all in Him…may you experience His peace today 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      April 7, 2014 at 7:21 pm

      You, too, Dolly – and thank you.

      Reply
  8. Lisa notes says

    April 8, 2014 at 9:17 am

    Unity was so dear to Jesus’ heart for us. *Is* so dear. I need to do more in my own heart to make room for it. Thanks for this reminder, Michelle.

    Reply

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Living out faith in the everyday is no joke. If you’re anything like me, some days you feel full of confidence and hope, eager to proclaim God’s goodness and love to the world. Other days…not so much.

Let me say straight up: I wrestle with my faith. Most days I feel a little bit like Jacob, wrangling his blessing out of God. And most days I’m okay with that. I believe God made me a questioner and a wrestler for a reason, and I believe one of those reasons is so that I can connect more authentically with others.

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