Ephesians 2: Reconciliation in the Body

16th Week After Pentecost

Scripture

Ephesians 2:14–18 (NIV)

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Scripture Reflection

At the heart of Jesus’ work on the cross was reconciliation — not only of sinful humanity to God, but also of divided people to one another. Jesus destroyed the dividing wall of hostility, making one new humanity in Himself. Through His blood, all groups and tribes are welcomed to the same table, made family, given the same Spirit.

In New England — and across the American Church — there remain deep fractures in the body of Christ. Divisions of race, class, denomination, tradition, politics, and theology can become walls of hostility that grieve the Spirit. If we long for a regional altar that burns with God’s presence, we must also long for reconciliation, because God will not pour out His fullness upon a divided church.

Revival history shows that a reconciling move of God often precedes a revival move of God. The Moravian revival was marked by confession and reconciliation among divided believers. The Azusa Street Revival broke down racial barriers in a time of fierce segregation. Unity in the Spirit creates a holy container for God’s glory to dwell.

May God bring down every wall in our region, destroying suspicion, healing old wounds, and making the church a true witness of His reconciling love. Let us ask Him to build a regional altar where all tribes, tongues, and backgrounds can worship side by side, in peace, as one new humanity in Christ.

Praying it UP / IN / OUT 

UP: Praise Jesus, our Peace, who has broken down every dividing wall through the cross. Worship Him for making one new humanity.

IN: Ask the Spirit to search your own heart for prejudice, bitterness, or division. Pray for a willingness to forgive and be reconciled.

OUT: Intercede for the regional church in New England to be reconciled across denominational, racial, class, and theological divides — that we would become a unified body prepared to receive revival.

Closing Prayer

Prince of Peace,

You tore down the dividing wall of hostility. You made one new humanity from what was once divided. We worship You for reconciling us to the Father and to one another.

Forgive us, Lord, for the ways we have rebuilt walls You died to destroy. 

Forgive us for suspicion, for pride, for bitterness, for clinging to our camps rather than embracing Your Body.

Come and heal what is broken in the church of New England. Tear down the walls of race, class, denomination, and tradition. Bind us together by Your Spirit, so that the watching world may see Your love.

Make us one, Jesus. One in worship, one in mission, one in heart. Let the altar of our region burn with the beauty of reconciled worship, where every tongue and tribe declares Your glory together.

Amen.