You’ve felt unconnected. Even as a Christian, it can feel like life is a one player game. But there is hope. In fact, in Jesus, you can be more connected than anyone else on earth!

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22

You are a Citizen, Household Member and a part of a Holy Temple

Remember a couple of weeks ago we were reminded that we were not part of the privileged citizenship of Israel, but now we’re told that we are citizens and more than that, we’re a part of his household. And even morer, we are God’s temple. Citizens is amazing, because back then when Ephesians was written, less than half of people who lived in a city like Ephesus would have been a citizen. That’s a status that comes with a lot of privileges! But to be adopted into the family of God, the Father of Jesus? That’s just too much! That’s stunning! But to be fitted together and built together into a temple of the Lord? That’s mind-blowing!

You are Indwelt

This is what he meant Paul meant when he said a couple of sentences ago when he said that we were formerly, “without hope of God on earth.” In Israel they used to have a building called the temple where God dwelled on earth, but it was always, “over there.” Now God has a building called the church, a new creation temple, and God dwells on earth, and it’s always, “right here.” Jesus was always a builder. He built all of creation (1 Cor. 8:6; Col 1:15-20), he was a building contractor in the first 30 years of his life as he worked with his stepdad Joseph and now he’s gone and torn down a wall and built a temple. A temple which is the beginning fulfillment of the end of days temple prophecies from the Old Testament.

You are Near

We who were far away have been brought near. You’ve been brought near to God. You can never be closer to God than we are now. No matter how you feel, he has preached peace to us who were far away and brought us near to him. And we’ve been brought near to each other. Sometimes we don’t feel very close to other believers, sometimes we feel like we’re at odds with each other, but we can never be closer to each other than we are now.

You are Fitted

No matter how we feel, he has brought us near to each other, even fitted us together, intentionally, artisanally. If we’re “fitted,” than we must need each other somehow, we must complement each other somehow. The Master Builder has made us one. He said of a married couple that they’re one flesh. He said of us that we’re one body. “I don’t feel like it.” Well, those of you who are married, do you feel very married? It doesn’t matter if you feel like it, you are. Think like it, act like it, choose to feel like it, live into it!

What a gift we’ve been given to be able to call God our Father. What a gift we’ve been given to be able to call beautiful people throughout the world our brothers and our sisters. If you’re in Christ, you are not unconnected. You’re an integral part of something profoundly connected.