“Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Ephesians 2:12-13 (ESV)

Have you ever lost a loved one? There is a great deal of pain and suffering that comes with losing someone that you love. It could be a family member, a good friend, or someone else that was close to you. 

The pain of the separation burns in us. Sometimes, every single day. That desire to hear that person’s voice one more time can bring us to tears even years later. 

The pain that so many other people feel when we are separated from the ones we love does not even come close to the pain of separation from our God. Most of us don’t realize this pain, because we have either been set free or we don’t recognize it in our own lives. 

The desire to commune with our Creator is often buried deep within us but is always there. This Is one of the greatest joys of being in Christ. The pain is gone and we are set free. However, this is only one benefit. We are no longer separated and alienated from Christ and his people. 

Christ has brought us close and we are given a new family. This new family is the church. We are no longer separated by the barriers of language, nationality, race, gender, or class. We are one family. 

Imagine millions of people all part of the same family. If you have ever met a Christian from another nation, you know what this looks like. There is an instant bond between the two. No longer do we have to mourn the separation from Christ. Instead, we can celebrate the unity with the Church and the relationship we have with Christ.

Prayer: Lord, help me fellowship with other believers. Help me find ways to spend time with my family. I know I am not perfect, but I know that my brothers and sisters in Christ are brought near by Your blood. Amen.