One Family in Jesus
In Jesus, differences are not erased, but joined in a shared life that displays His love.
Devotional Credit: In Christ – by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash
E. Stanley Jones paints a vivid picture of the radical nature of Paul’s declaration that Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Jesus through the gospel. For the Jewish believer of Paul’s day, this truth dismantled deep-seated divisions. In Christ, there is no category of person who stands outside the reach of God’s family.
Jones shows how the walls of exclusion—whether based on race, status, or background—are shattered by the gospel. The message of Jesus levels the ground, declaring there are no permanently superior or inferior people. Any differences that exist are cultural, educational, or circumstantial, not a measure of worth. This is not a theory but a living reality for those in Him.
Two thousand years later, Jones reminds us we are still learning to live this truth. Many barriers remain, but the Spirit continues to work, crumbling false notions of superiority. The goal is not simply to coexist but to embrace one another as brothers and sisters, recognizing that every person is one for whom Jesus died.
In the end, the heart of the message is this: the church is not a collection of separated groups but one unified body. As we live out this reality, the watching world sees a foretaste of God’s eternal kingdom.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
You are one body in Me. There are no divisions in My Spirit. Every wall that separates you from another has been torn down in My cross. I have made the two into one new humanity, reconciling you to God in one body through the cross.
Do not look at anyone as common or unclean. See each person through My eyes. They are made in My image and loved with the same love that sent Me to the cross for you. You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
As you walk in this truth, let My Spirit guide you to love without discrimination. In My kingdom, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. You are all one in Me, and together you are being built into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Scripture References: Ephesians 3:4–6, Ephesians 2:14–19, Galatians 3:28, Acts 10:28, Colossians 3:11, Romans 15:7, John 17:21–23
Real-Life Analogy
Imagine a pot of soup simmering on the stove. Each ingredient has its own texture and flavor, but as they cook together, they blend into one harmonious taste. None of the ingredients disappear, but all contribute to a rich, unified whole.
This is how the family of God works. We are not called to erase our uniqueness, but to bring it into the shared life of Jesus so that His love binds us together. Today, if you encounter someone whose differences once made you hesitant, you can pause and say, “Lord, I trust You to love through me in this moment and show Your unity in the way I respond.”
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, thank You that in You there are no outsiders. I rejoice that You have made me part of one body with every believer, regardless of background or heritage. I affirm that the walls of separation have been removed, and I trust You to express Your love through me to everyone I meet. Thank You for giving me a place in Your family and for making us one in You.