April 29th | Once Far Away - Now Near - Part 1

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

ONCE FAR AWAY – NOW NEAR – Part I

Ephesians 2:11-12 “Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.” 

What is it like being on the outside looking in? If you could go back to Old Testament times you could ask a gentile what it was like living among the Israelites. They were viewed as unclean! There was no inclusion of gentiles with Jews. Peter said, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you.” (Acts 10:28) The Jews insisted on the necessity of circumcision before they would associate with anyone. (see Galatians 2:12) 

Today’s devotional verses focus upon yet another problem the gentiles had. Paul writes in these verses that the gentiles “ . . . did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. (They) lived in this world without God and without hope.” To be excluded by Jews was one thing. To be without God and without hope was a far greater problem.   

Spiritually speaking, the gentiles were on the far away. They were far away from having a faith relationship with Yahweh. They were living in unbelief. They were sinners, as all human beings are, but knew not the terrible consequences of their sin nor the only way to have them removed. 

The situation of the gentiles then, remains for many today. According to today’s researchers only a minority of people living on this planet are believers in the Triune God and believe in Jesus for their salvation. They are, so to speak, on the outside, far away from a relationship with Yahweh and doomed to everlasting death.  

Thanks be to God that He has brought you “near” to Him through the faith He has gifted you in His son Jesus.   

(Tomorrow’s devotion will look at the “now near.”) 

Prayer: Lord, I pray for all those who do not know You, Your love and the salvation You want them to receive through Your Son Jesus. Bless those who are spreading the Gospel that unbelievers may know of the hope there is through Christ Jesus. In His name. Amen. 

O Son of God, in Galilee You made the deaf to hear,  The mute to speak, the blind to see; O blessed Lord, be near. 

O listen to the silent prayer Of Your afflicted ones.  O bid them cast on You their care; Your grace to them make known. 

The speechless tongue, the lifeless ear You can restore, O Lord;  Your “Ephphatha,” O Savior dear, Can instant help afford.  

Meanwhile to them the list’ning ear Of steadfast faith impart,  And let Your Word bring light and cheer To ev’ry troubled heart. 

Then in Your promised happy land Each loss will prove again;  All myst’ries we shall understand, For You will make them plain. (LSB 841)