June 09, 2026 | Be Connected
The Household of God
Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22(NIV)
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Devotional
Today’s passage is the culmination of several verses that have come before.
Last Friday's devotional looked at verses 11–13, and Pastor Mark showed us how we were once separated from God—not by our own choice, but by the circumstances of our birth. We were "outsiders" to the covenant, marked by physical rituals like circumcision that were merely, "done in the body by human hands." (vs.11). But everything changed with Jesus. Through His sacrifice, those who were once far off have been brought near by His blood.
Then, verses 14–18 expanded on this "new reality." They showed us how Jesus didn't just bridge the gap; He physically destroyed the "dividing wall of hostility" (vs.14) that stood between Jew and Gentile. God's goal was to create one new humanity out of the two, giving us all equal access to the Father through one Spirit.
Today, we finally see God’s ultimate purpose in all of this: He is building a house!
God isn't just looking for individuals; He is looking for a family. He wants everyone who is united in their commitment to Jesus to be "members of His household." To illustrate this, Paul uses the analogy of a Great Temple—the very place where we meet and have access to the Father.
Think about the structure of this building:
- The Cornerstone: Jesus Himself, who holds everything together.
- The Foundation: Built on the self-giving legacy of the apostles and prophets.
In this "building project," Hebrew heritage and laws are set aside to make room for everyone in the dwelling place for God’s Spirit.
I am personally overwhelmed when I think God's unifying love and the invitation we’ve been given: We aren't just guests in God’s house; we are the very stones He is using to build it. What an incredible opportunity to join our Lord in His eternal building project!
