May 3 Made One in the Spirit

Ephesians 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
 
AND (referring to yesterday’s Scripture) how did both Gentiles (who were far off) and Jews (those who were near) come together to be one in Jesus’ peace?
    As the cross battered down the hostile wall between Jews and Gentiles, the Father completed his unifying work with the Holy Spirit’s power as “Both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” From the dawn of creation when “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2b), to the new creation of Jesus’ New Testament, the Spirit has administered is creative, life-giving power. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5-6) God’s chosen people have been made one with God in the Spirit’s power.
    Jesus prayed this would be so in his loving, intercessory prayer for his people recorded in John 17:22-23 “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” 
    Do you see the repetitive focus on “one”? All saved in Jesus’ death and resurrection are born again in the Spirit’s power to be one with each other and with the Father.    
    Are you finding it difficult to be one in spirit and in truth with others in Jesus’ church? Perhaps you are unhappy about circumstances or issues in people’s lives. Maybe you are frustrated with others’ lack of devotion to Jesus’ teachings. You might be sad over others’ sins because you know it is destroying their lives. Possibly you have often encouraged people to open their Bibles, but they disregard your care for them.
    Be at peace. Your focus must be first on how the Spirit is empowering you to be one with God. Realize that only the Spirit will breathe new life into God’s people. Be one with his church to demonstrate truth, mercy and grace. Pray to the Spirit to care for your own heart, for his church and for the broken world. Live in gratitude the Spirit has drawn you into the Father’s presence. Give thanks to God for your salvation. Live as if his love endures forever because, in the Spirit’s power, it does.  
 
Prayer: Help me, Spirit, to be one with Jesus’ peace, recognizing and believing in your power to bring life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.