The crux of the Christian message is the cross. Without it, the Christian message loses its focal point and centrality. Drawing from Ephesians 2: 11-22, Pastor Fred Auma shared on the cross of Jesus Christ, that it gives us hope, love, and fulfilment, the promises ordained from Creation. In the New Testament, Paul preaches the gospel of the cross, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:17 – 18).
In Paul’s letter to God’s holy people in Ephesus, he emphasises the power of reconciliation in the cross of Jesus Christ, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). We carry significant baggage based on identity, place of birth, description, lineage, genealogy, origin, tribe, achievements, social status, race and all sorts of divisions resulting in prejudice based on these categorisations. In Kenya, we are guilty of looking at each other through tribal lenses, even in Church. We must apply the truth of the gospel as children of God. As members of one body of Christ, it is a sin to view others through tribal lenses. We must call ourselves to order, reminding ourselves that we are the mirror through which the truth of God’s Word is reflected in communities and nations. In the context of this election season, we must apply this message as we vote for our leaders, not based on tribe but their leadership qualities and as fellow Kenyans.
APPLICATION
Let us seek the power of the cross of Jesus Christ to reconcile us as one nation, devoid of any divisions.
PRAYER
Almighty God, may You reconcile us during this election season and beyond, so that we may see ourselves as Kenyans.
