How would you describe what chronic illness, disability, and isolation does to your life? Do you feel like an outsider for those or other reasons? Do those words bring up the pain?

I have good news. There is hope.

As I read Ephesians 2:11-12, I felt the pain in these verses. Notice what Paul says the Ephesians were:

• Gentiles in the flesh.
• called “uncircumcised” by the circumcised in the flesh by human hands.
• without the Messiah.
• excluded from the citizenship of Israel.
• foreigners to the covenants of the promise.
• without hope.
• without God in the world.

OUCH. That is pretty discouraging, hopeless. I mean even Paul said they were hopeless.

Those with disability and chronic illness know this feeling in a different way. It can seem as if we are always on the outside looking in. Sometimes, this comes from our conditions themselves as we can’t do more. Sometimes, it comes from well-meaning (or not so well-meaning people) who don’t understand our conditions and think we should be able to overcome.

The Ephesians knew this pain. Look at some of those words that Paul used to describe them: called “uncircumcised” – labeled, without (the Messiah, God, and hope), excluded, and foreigners. Stop and think about that.

Do you notice that while our being separated or isolated may be due to our health, there is a deeper need? There is the spiritual separation from God. Yes, those who had been circumcised by human hands were treating those who hadn’t as outcasts, but notice that in verse 12 the separation is separation from God.

Separation from God is a much more serious and dangerous matter. It is a despondent situation apart from the hope of Christ. You will notice that Paul is asking them to remember who they were, not who they are now.

Wait… what… they are no longer “without,” excluded, or foreigners to the covenant of promise. Doesn’t that make your heart rejoice? For, we, too, can have relationship with God (if you don’t already)!

Tomorrow, we move to verse 13 and that ever important 3-letter word, “But….” In that word, we will see that we are no longer outcasts or outsiders even in our isolation. That word makes all the difference. Wow! See you tomorrow.