Belonging

“You, however are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:9-11 ESV

Belonging. We all want to belong to something, to someone. It’s a basic human need. God has provided for belonging by giving Himself. Sit and think on that for a moment. Not just blessings. Not just gifts. God has given Himself—an intimate relationship with the Almighty, Holy, Just, Righteous King of the Universe and all Creation.

Do  you feel as though you can’t _____? You can’t live the life that God wants? Can’t live up to His standards? To look back at verses 6 and 7 is to realize that those feelings are absolutely accurate.  To repeat, “those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (v 8) However, God can accomplish His will. God can. And, because He has given Himself by giving the Holy Spirit to indwell every believer, we can do God’s will, in Christ, through the Spirit.

How does having the Holy Spirit relate to belonging? Being “in Christ,” and having the Holy Spirit indwelling, makes us truly in God’s family. We are part of the church, which is “the bride of Christ.” (see Ephesians 5). We belong to Christ. He bought us with His own blood. He gave His life as a sin offering for our sin. I belong. I am His. I am not an island unto myself; I belong to Someone.

Do you feel as though you don’t belong? Have you accepted Christ’s ultimate payment for your sin through His sinless life and atoning death and glorious resurrection? Have you said, “God, I turn my life and my will and my everything over to You; I want to belong to Your family. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay for my sin. Thank you for giving the Holy Spirit to be with me always.”

If you have accepted Jesus, then choose to believe what God says, and reject the lies that “I don’t belong; I don’t fit in.” Repent of your unbelief. Choose to believe God.