god our peace and cornerstone

Eph 2:14-18

christ our peace
for the first time in my christian walk, i appreciate the fact that i am a gentile and jesus has broght me near him through his blood.

i was once (eph 2:11-13)

1)gentile in the flesh
2)called Uncircumcision
3)without Christ
4)aliens from the commonwealth of Israel
5)strangers from the covenants of promise
6) having no hope and without God in the world

But by the grace of god, i have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

As a result of the blood of christ which has brought me into the inner courts of god,
god has made peace between Israel and the gentiles. God has "reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross" (v16).

Now both gentiles and israelites have access to the Father thru one spirit. (v 17)

thus God is our peace as he has made peace between the Israelites and gentiles.


Christ Our Cornerstone (Eph 2:19-22)cornerstone(Oxford dictionary)
an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based

An architecture analogy is used in these verses to illustrate the dwelling place of god.

How is the dwelling place of god created?
What is the foundation of the builidng?
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone (v20)

How does the foundation affect the building?in whom the whole building, being fitted together (v21)
In my own words, it means that every single floor/room of the building are designed to suit the use of the building.

note the interesting use of "in whom" in the last few verses.


Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

"in whom" refer to jesus christ. this means that in order for all the floors and rooms to be fitted together, this must be done in jesus christ. not by the power of man, but in jesus christ.

The building is a living thing
Note the use of "grows into" in verse 21

grows into a holy temple in the Lord (v21)

this means that the building is alive, unlike the concreate ones that we see around us. this also implies that the holy temple in the Lord is not one that is built overnight, but one that grows to become the temple.

This temple is also referred to as dwelling place of God in the Spirit (v22).
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Reflection and Response

god, thank you for your grace that you have called me from afar into your inner courst. help me to always dwell in the inner courts of your presence and spirit.

you have made peace for me and i want to dwell in this peace that you have given me thru your blood.

i was unworthy and you have called me near you. thank you for your grace. teach me to be gracious to the ones around me the same way you have been gracious to me.

jesus, you are the cornerstone of your family.

i ask myself, how much has my earthy family made you the cornerstone? how much does puay hong the kids and i depend on you for life?

i pray for ph and me that we will work and abide in christ together to make christ the cornerstone of our family. we need to be steward to grow this family into a temple of god.

father i realise that all thing should be done 'in jesus christ'. even as i go about lecturing, bringing my children, loving and supporting my husband, loving my family, i pray that i will do all things in jesus christ.

help me lord. i am weak and easily distracted by the things around me but holy spirit keep me in you. grant me the desire of my heart.

amen.

i pray for my children that they will know and love the lord personally. use ph and me to share the word and love of god. most of all, allow the holy spirit to work in them.

lord you see the struggle in ph life. i pray for the spirit of revelation to come upon him and open his eyes to the TRuth that sets him free. Free him from his struggles by changing his heart. let his heart be on fire for you so much so that the things of the world grows dim.

even as he draws near to you, i pray that he will know your will for II, for his HDB and his projects.

i pray that god will permeate into every membrane of his life, not just at the car park.

i pray for a breakthrough in ph walk with you and let this breakthrough take place in the fire of the holy spirit.

amen.