BELONGING VERSUS BELONGING

BELONGING VERSUS BELONGING

John [GW] 1:11-13 He went to his own people, and his own people didn't accept him. However, he gave the right to become God's children to everyone who believed in him. These people didn't become God's children in a physical way-from a human impulse or from a husband's desire to have a child. They were born from God. [Note John chapter 3:1-21]

1Peter [GW] 2:2-10 Desire God's pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good! You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God. You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ. That is why Scripture says, "I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion, and the person who believes in him will never be ashamed." This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don't believe: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, a stone that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive." The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up. However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not God's people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.

  Often the refrain from dear old hymn repeatedly plays in the studio of my mind, and judging from emotional reaction, in my heart.

  “Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me – Not for the years of time alone, But for eternity.” (Now I Belong To Jesus, by Norman J. Clayton. Hebrews 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.": http://www.my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/belong.html )

  No miracle in the words and music replays; it is how The Word works when consideration is given. In this case the thread from pondering that Jesus died not just to redeem unto eternal life those that trust Him. He also sacrificed to redeem us from self; that we no longer need to live for ourselves struggling to maintain a fragile semblance of sanity, success, or survival. (2Cor.5:15)

  How wonderful is God’s Holy Spirit within as He renews our thinking, setting us free in Christ! (Jn.14:16-17; Rom.12:1-3;1Cor.6:19; 1Thes.5:19; Heb.1:13)

  A basic human need is to belong. In Eden, this fully was had until Eve, then Adam, granting audition to the wily old serpent. Once that seal of belonging was broken by man’s distrust of his Creator, the emotional need to belong became a dominant factor resulting in our sinful striving to fill the vacuum with prideful things that cannot satisfy. The list is long and various, including clubs, associations, fraternities, clans, tribes, gangs, corporations, charitable organizations, ministries, religions, churches, marriage, having children; all of which can never fully sate our hunger to actually belong.

  Take a moment and contemplate a few questions: How much effort do I invest in trying to gain and maintain the impression of belonging? How effective are my efforts? Do I feel that I’m continually against the wall in such endeavor? Has the investment ever become frustrating to the point that I withdrew in disappointment, even despairing, going hermit, or possibly even to the point of considering suicide?

  There is but one true belonging, it being in living within Christ’s redemptive work.

  Individuals without will never truly enjoy belonging and its release (Jn.8:32-36), for they are not His (Mt.7:21-23; Jn.3:18; 8:23-47) though they certainly can be (John 3:1-36; 5:24; 10:28)

  And then there are those trusting Him for eternal salvation but living in conflict with who they are as redeemed people (Jn.1:12; 2Cor.5:17; 1Pet.1:18); belonging to God, yet struggling by worldly methods to fill their need to belong; thereby thwarting the fruit of the Spirit.

  Come, let us sing the joyous song: “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am. … Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus, No language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence. With me doth continually dwell.” (Redeemed, by Fanny J. Crosby & William J. Kirkpatrick. http://www.my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/redeemed.html )

EBB4 (Reviewed and rethought this morning. Originally pondered and penned 9/7/14)