Ephesians 2: 11-18

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

do you remember feeling like you had no hope? I do... I remember that I didn't care if I lived or died because I had no hope.. nothing to look forward to... it seemed like it was just day after day with no expected change... I am so thankful for the hope and the joy that has came into my heart and mind with Christ... I am so sorry that it had to be shed blood to give these things to us...
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

he says our hostility toward one another was put to death... I don't see that to be true yet... I believe it is supposed to be that way but we are all fighting against one another for one reason or another... it seems as if we are not all the same then we don't fit in... God never wanted us to all be the same... we are each a unique model... all showing the love of God through our own personality.... supposed to be...
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

none of us could come to the Father if it had not been for the death of Christ.. how often do we really realize the magnitude of that truth....