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The Dividing Wall
April 19, 2011

November 9, 2010, marked the 21st anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. On that day in 1989, an announcement over East German TV informed people that they were free to travel to West Germany. A day later, East German bulldozers began to dismantle the wall that for 28 years had divided East and West Germany.

Jesus Christ “has broken down the middle wall of separation” between Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:14). But there was an even more impenetrable barrier that separated man from God. Jesus’ death and resurrection made the reconciliation between man and man and between man and God possible (v.16).

All believers are now “members of the household of God” (v.19). Together, we are to grow into “a holy temple in the Lord” (v.21) with God’s Holy Spirit living among and within us (v.22).

But sadly, Christians often re-erect walls between one another. That is why Paul urges us to “walk worthy of the calling . . . , bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (4:1-3). Rather than building walls, let’s work to dismantle what separates us. Let the world see that we are indeed of the same household.

We’re members of Christ’s body,
A blessed family;
So let’s not fight or quarrel,
But live in harmony. —Fitzhugh

Unity among believers comes from their union with Christ.

Read: Ephesians 2:11-22; 4:1-3

He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation. —Ephesians 2:14

Bible in a year:
2 Samuel 6-8; Luke 15:1-10

People that work ... and people that do not work ... (Of course there are exceptions) ... Much of the world is desperate for the basics of freedom from slavery, freedom of choice, and freedom from tyranny.

In American we have the good life available to those willing to work for it. Early day farmers did it all. raised sons and daughters to help them make a life. Hard work, everyday. Truly on their own 99% of the time. With the help of God and faith.

We have weakened our system by ‘indenturing’ many people to the welfare system, so they feel no need to do anything other than wait for the check in the mail and government commodities given our regularly; taken and then traded in some cases for smokes, or alcoholic drinks. We made programs (California) for training the immigrants of later times to have a means of work. .. Mostly they fail, due to corruption, and mismanagement. A few take hold and use the opportunity. The ones that do are almost spectacular in their success in their community.

How do we remedy this sorry state of affairs? Require some community service and work for all able bodied receiving welfare checks. Child care, office filing, cleaning, other basic tasks in schools, hospitals, prisons, communities, etc. Let us Add to their sense of self worth instead of taking it away. MO