This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
The reality in the world at Paul’s time was that people of non-Jewish birth did not have the same rights as the people of Jewish decent. At the time of Abraham, God made a promise to Abraham that he would bless his family line, give the land of Canaan to them and that many nations would come from him. To seal this promise or covenant, God instructed Abraham to circumcise all the males in his household. Circumcision was a sign that that individual and their families lived under the covenant God had made. To enter this covenant for the descendants of Abraham, all one had to do was to be born of Jewish parents and then for those parents to have you circumcised on the eighth day. Some foreigners married in or were bought as slaves and circumcised, but if you weren’t circumcised you were separated from citizenship in Israel.
For many this was a physical designation or national designation…which it was. However the picture of Israel always was intended to be a spiritual picture of the relationship God had with his people. Israel was the gathering of people who would put their faith in the true God and walked in the ways of the Lord.
So not only is Paul identifying a physical reality (excluded from Israel) but most importantly he is addressing the spiritual reality…they were separated from God.
The result? Without hope…without God in this world.
Not only is this a reality for the people in Ephesus, but this is true for every individual who is separated from Christ and not a follower of the Lord.
What strikes me about this phrase is that people in Ephesus, like people today, had entities that they call “god” around them. At the heart of it all was the worship of Artemis, the fertility goddess. Yet in a subtle, yet direct way, Paul is telling them, if you were not worshipping the true God, you are without God.
How do you think this would settle today? We have a culture that has many things that are worshiped as God or in the place of God. Yet to the Buddhist, we can say, “They are without hope and without God.” The same could be said for the atheist, the Muslim, the wiccan, or the Mormon and yes even of the Jews. Why? Because they are all separated from Christ and have an idea and worship of a god that is NOT the true God.
The result? They are without hope. Perhaps you have had conversations with followers of other faiths and they seem very hopeful…but there is still an air of uncertainty. I’ve talked with a Muslim neighbor that “hopes” Allah will be merciful. I’ve talked with a Jehovah Witness who “hopes” Jehovah will count them good enough. I’ve talked with a Jew who hopes their goodness in life is good enough.
Apart from God, apart from Christ we are without hope because we are without the true God.
Not only is it others, but this was our condition as we came into the world. Not a great place to be…but it’s not where we stayed. Look for tomorrow’s devotion for what changes things!
Apply: When have you felt hopeless in this world? How did reconnecting with the Lord restore hope in your heart?
Prayer: Lord, we realize we had no claim on citizenship in your kingdom. We are grateful that your heart of love did not desire that we remain without you or without hope. Thank you for taking us from outside your kingdom and bringing us near to you. AMEN.