tearing down the walls...

Did you catch the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall yesterday? How awesome! I was 16 when it happened, so I remember it well. It is one those timeless images burned into my mind. That wall had been the symbol of a divided city, a divided nation, and a divided world. In essence, it was a symbol of hate, separation and control. It was a thrill to watch it come down and the joy of a people long separated by it.

There are some huge spiritual lessons to be drawn from that wall, too. There are walls all around us that we cannot see; many that are within us, as well. Some of them were put there by others; most of them were put up by our very selves. The Enemy, yours and mine, loves walls. He loves to divide... and control... and hate. And he wants nothing less than for us to enjoy his misery. His walls are not much different than those such as the Berlin Wall. His walls always result in misunderstanding... and suspicion... and discord... and war... and ultimately hate.

Are you allowing him to put up his walls in your life? What are our motivations? What separates us from people? Why do we find it hard to deny ourselves and sacrifice our own wants and preferences to love people who are far from God? Is it not because of walls of our own construction? Why do we resist changes that would help people discover Jesus? Why do we only hang around with people who are like ourselves? Is it because we secretly enjoy our walls?

Jesus came into our lives to tear those walls down. He died on a cross to show how strongly God felt about walls. Don't let the Enemy build walls in your life. And resist the great urge to build them yourselves. It's easier to build them than you might think... and most of us are very good at it without even knowing it.

Walls keep you from being the very best you you can be. Walls keep you from having the heart of Jesus. Walls keep you from giving yourself away for the sake of others. Walls put you in the service of the wrong master.

Tear down the walls. Invite God to search your heart to see if there are any hidden walls in your life. Let freedom ring!