Romans 2:11 For
God does not show favoritism. (NIV)
We all feel the need to
belong to God; some folks may not know it yet; others may feel as though they’ve
lost it; others may still be hoping that God has not forgotten them, even
though they have willfully forsaken Him. Whatever the case, we all have this
Edenic need to belong to God – it’s in our genes and wired to our DNA, so why
fight against it?
To be part of a group
gives us an identity, encouragement, and confidence. To experience belonging
erases our isolation, insecurity, and vulnerability. And with God, who shows no
favoritism, it means that we are never alone in this world or universe or
dimension. God is willing to include us in His existence; God is always seeking
to fill that gap or emptiness in our hearts and lives with His love. We belong
to God because He longs to love us no matter who we are, where we go, or what
we’ve done. God shows no favorites – we are all loved equally in His eyes.
Perhaps you’ve been away
from church for a while and have lost your spiritual connection. Maybe you’ve
been thinking about going back to a congregation but feel nervous about walking
through those sanctuary doors again and seeing those good folks you actually
miss. Know this: they miss you, too, and to them, as well as to God, you have
always belonged there. God shows no favorites, not even to those who have
worshipped faithfully for years.
In the midst of very
tragic and painful times, our loneliness and confusion can be very hard to
bear. We will never work out why bad things happen to innocent people or why
society seems so brutal and brazen. But rather than remain bewildered and
isolated, we can quietly come back to God, to be embraced with His love, and to
be comforted by His words. Returning to church may seem like a very big step,
but once we are there, we’ll soon discover that God has been waiting for us all
along. Why? Because we all belong to God – there are no favorites – thank God!
Point to ponder
Have I been feeling
isolated and alone recently? Do I need a place to belong? Am I willing to let
God lead me back to church?
Prayer: Lord God, You
created this beautiful world and decided to share it with human beings. We are
made in Your image and contain part of Your Spirit in us. Help us to reconnect
with You and be restored to Your holy love. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in
Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You
will be made very welcome and we will be delighted to see you. 😊
Today’s image is one of
John’s early Communion drawings. If you would like to view a larger version,
click this link: Communion.
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