In Ancient Near Eastern Jewish culture, it was believed that salvation was only for Jews or those who conformed to the legal requirements of Judaism. Gentiles were generally seen as lost and distinct from Jews in belief and culture. However, Jesus had a heart for both Jew and Gentile. He desired and made a way for them to be one in Him. For example, Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 pleads for unity among his followers and Ephesians 2:13-18 explains how Jesus’ work on the cross tore down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. Despite the barriers that his followers erected between themselves and believers different from them, Jesus calls them to unite themselves with those who were seen as “the other.” This was viewed as inappropriate by the leading Jews. Eventually, the acceptance of the Gentiles became the belief that set early Christianity apart from other sects of Judaism.

Within the church today, there are many divisions. It’s easy for us to judge those from different cultural or Christian traditions. Instead of embracing people as brothers and sisters, we can label them as “the other” and practically exclude them from our interactions within the body of Christ. This behavior is in stark contract to what Jesus did, sacrificing his own body, so we could be one and experience the fruits of unity.

Today, let us pray that we and the ministries throughout our region will become mindful of the ways in which we separate ourselves from our fellow believers and, in doing so, disrespect the reconciling work that Jesus did on the cross. Let us pray that we see our brothers and sisters as Jesus does, covered by his blood and part of his family. May we act in unity because what divides us has been overcome by Jesus’ work on the cross.