Dear SCC & Friends,
Called to belong… ~Romans 1:16
Reflection #174
A simple step can leave a lasting impression. My oldest son had the privilege of playing in the 1999 Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California. The team practiced at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and I drove 50 miles from my home to surprise my son. Upon arrival, access to the facility was tightly controlled. I must admit the scene was a bit intimidating… a half-dozen-chartered buses, police security and a strong media presence… Also, I realized that those who were being admitted had special I.D. badges, of which I had none. For a brief and intimidating moment, I felt out of place… no credentials and probably would be rejected without a pass. Despite my misgivings, I decided to press through. I walked up to a gigantic security guard who stared a hole right through me with a nonverbal expression that said, “Who are you?” As he glared down at me, I told him my name and that my son was on the team. Inexplicably, his face went from night to day… A big smile broke out, and he tapped me on the shoulder, “You belong here, go on in.” It felt good to hear those words.
Belonging is the essence of our relationship with the Lord and one another. It is a sad commentary that so many Christians assess they don’t belong and live their journey of faith apart from full acceptance and the love of God. One of the greatest human desires is to belong. By its very nature, it is a need that can be misdirected and misplaced… Will the next generation join a gang, a church or neither? Where will they belong? We belong and have been handpicked by the Lord. There is no “B Team” in Christ. …He brought us out…in order to bring us in… ~Deut. 6:23 We have been grafted in …and we belong to Christ… ~1 Cor. 3:23 What a gift the Lord gives to those who will believe and receive. …we are one body in Christ, and we belong to each other. ~Rom. 12:5 CEB Made for these days… Keep up the good work!
We belong,
Kevin