We belong
2020-04-06Psalm 68:6 NCV
Whatever season of life we’re in, we can all experience loneliness. It can hit us when we leave home, move to a new area, or face rejection. It can make us feel like we don’t belong. But in God’s kingdom we always have a place where we belong. And however many times we face rejection, we’re accepted by God. The Message paraphrase of 1 Peter 2 says: ‘You are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you – from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted’ (vv.9-10). We’re His children and He loves us. The Bible says: ‘The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children’ (1 John 3:1 NCV). Whenever we’re feeling rejected by others, we need to remember that our identity is found in Him. Throughout the Bible, God reminds people that He’s with them. He told Joshua: ‘Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forget you’ (Joshua 1:5 NCV). And Jesus told the disciples: ‘I will not leave you all alone like orphans; I will come back to you’ (John 14:18 NCV). He promises to be with us too. He will never leave us. Even when we’re walking through dark valleys, He’s walking right beside us (take a look at Psalm 23:4). Even when everyone else leaves us, He’s still there. Even when we feel lonely, we’re never actually alone. We belong to God, and we belong in His kingdom.