Written by Pastor Mark Driskill
October 4, 2011

Read Ephesians 2:14-18

“Thereby killing the hostility.”

One goal of the redeeming work of the cross is an end to hostility and the breaking in of peace. But the question haunting us is are we living in the peace Christ won for us on the cross? Or are we choosing rather to continue on in the hostility Christ died to abolish?

One sure evidence that we have been redeemed, and are being redeemed, is the putting away of hostile feelings and actions toward God and toward one another. Yet we still struggle with our flesh, which is always pushing the buttons of fear and pride deep within us so that we build walls rather than bridges. We have asked God for forgiveness yet we still keep our redeemer at arm’s length as if we fear he hasn’t quite accepted us. We limp along spiritually afraid to draw nearer to our God than we absolutely have to because we are not yet perfected in love, because perfect love drives out fear. But for our own safety we keep divine love on the shelf lest it consume us and change us into something we aren’t quite sure we want to be; the image of Christ. We find it safer to maintain just a little of the hostility of the past than to be overtaken by divine love.

Secondly we struggle with one another. We believe we are reconciled to God and that all who come to Christ by faith are in fact our own. But we always draw a line on the grace we are willing to give. There are just some folks that we cannot bring ourselves to embrace. This person has a background that offends me while that one has a theology I cannot accept. Then another has a lifestyle that threatens my sense of propriety. I know Christ has died for all but how can I love that one without something inside my fragile soul breaking? How can I reach out to such a person and still maintain my religious posture? What if something rubs off and my spotless sensibilities are somehow contaminated?

We find it much easier then to maintain a distance from any who are too radically different. Yet Jesus came and “preached peace to all who are far and all who are near.” His grace and love are boundless. He draws no lines except the line of faith, hope and love.. “Whoever comes to me” he says, “I will in no wise cast out.” He draws no hostile lines. He has killed his hostilities and lives in perfect peace. This is a goal of the redeemed life. The more my hostilities die the more his life flows through me. So let us put away our defensive, us-vs.-them religion and approach the world on the grounds of grace. Let us live consistent with the purpose of the cross.

Jesus died to draw all people to himself, by faith. May we live for the same purpose.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten By the Word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten By the Word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
(Feel free to copy in any way that will bring glory to God and further his kingdom.)