Dear Faith Family, 

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, (Ephesians 2:12). 

Wait a second!  I was working on the playground in our backyard, installing the most incredible sliding board known to man.  Well, probably not.  But I thought it was cool!  My grandchildren slid down that slide a total of three times.  Combined!  Anyway, where was I?  Oh yea, I was installing a sliding board on the side of the playground. 

Some time ago I had attached a cedar birdhouse on the same side as the current sliding board facelift.  At some point, while working on the sliding board, I noticed that something had its head sticking out of the entrance / exit of the birdhouse.  Intrigued, I moved in for a closer look.  What sort of bird could it be.  Wait a second!  I’ve seen birds.  That’s no bird! 

Perched in the opening of the birdhouse was a tree frog!  What in the world?  He was so confused.  A frog in a birdhouse.  Now that’s weird!  He was an alien.  What was he thinking?  Maybe hoping for wings?  Strange. 

No stranger than Gentiles disguised as people of God.  What are we thinking?  Paul reminds us that we were aliens, strangers.  We didn’t belong.  We were separated from Christ.  Without Christ we weren’t part of the people of God.  We didn’t have claim to the covenants of promise.  We had no hope.  Kind of like a frog in a birdhouse waiting for wings! 

I’m so thankful for Ephesians 2:13 (it’s ok you can read ahead).  But now in Christ Jesus….  All of that hope, all of the covenants of promise, all of Jesus are now ours!  We are His!  Give thanks! 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (Ephesians 2:19).  Did I hear someone say “hallelujah”?  But don’t go tootin’ your own horn like somehow you earned your place.  No, that’s what Jesus did.  He earned your place.  Now, we frogs can bask in the comfort of His birdhouse.  Because of Jesus, we belong here! 

Basking in His birdhouse, 
Pastor Karl