There is much talk these days about what divides us: politics, religion, economics, nationalities, education, and so on. There aren’t many of us who are not aware of the growing hostility and incivility between the groups of people on the many different sides of an issues. There is this general sense that our society is so diverse with opinions, lifestyles, and politics that we will never find unity again.

Is this something new? Are we somehow in a worse situation than at any other times in history? Are we the only nation or society that has struggled to find unity and consensus or is this a struggle that people has always faces?

Welcome to our worship series entitled: Unity in our Diversity as we look at the New Testament Letter of Ephesians written to a church struggling to find unity amidst diverse and deeply divided Jewish and former pagan believers. Each group had strong and distinct identities which often collided and clashed to bring great misunderstanding and hurt. And just like it is today, it was hard for these Christians to bridge their differences and experience the kind of love, grace and forgiveness that Jesus often promised his followers.

This is why Paul reminds them that unity and oneness has always been on the heart of God for all his creation. Using the image of God adoption, he reminds these divided Christians that God has been in the world working “to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” just like an earthly parent would do for their children. God wants all of his children in his arms of love – whether they agree on everything or whether they don’t. What he wants is for us all to be in his family!

What a great vision of God for us to hold on to as we wonder whether it is possible to find unity in today’s great diversity and division. Perhaps this letter to a church written almost 2,000 years ago has something to say to us right now!

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