LENT: BELONG

You belong here. And you have a seat at the table. Because you are fully accepted and loved. I️ am God’s. And He is mine.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. Song of Solomon 6:3

Firmly Established

This verse is talking about the relationship that we have with Jesus. It is firmly established and nothing can tear it apart. The work is done. Remember, the foundation is laid. When God created you, He determined to set His affection on you.

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, Gal. 1:15

Regardless of Feelings

Regardless of what you may be feeling right now, you can KNOW that your salvation is secure. No one can steal it away.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38-39

So, when my emotions start to mess with me and tell me that “I️ don’t belong” or “I️ don’t measure up“…I️ can combat the lies going off like a siren in my head with the truth from the Word of God. The truth says you are worth it. Therefore, you do have a purpose. Jesus loves you and died for you. Furthermore, your sins are forgiven.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

Find Truth in the Word of God

We can stop all of the strivings and work and fretting and worrying, because, guess what? Jesus has done the work. It is by His power. Moreover, He is the limelight. Not you or I️ . He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15). We place our dependence on Him and what He is doing and what He is saying. Turn our attention to Him. Remember our proper place…we are the branch, not the vine.

So what that means is that I️ can choose rest. I️ can rest assured that my salvation has been bought with the price of Jesus’ blood and I️ belong. My rest is in Him. As a result, I️ can be dependent on Jesus, not on myself. And from that dependence, I️ can trust that He will give me purpose. Out of His abundance, I️ will bear fruit.

We get there by believing God’s Word and soaking it up and living it out. As we begin to trust Him…He truly will satisfy all the empty, broken, shattered pieces of our hearts. Practically, we put our reliance on Him and perk up our ears to truly listen. Read His Word and believe it to be true. Not just for the Israelites or the disciples…but ourselves. And then, we start giving Him away to those around us so that they can know Him too. This is what we’ve been made for…to give Jesus away and see Him be glorified.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to stop trying to measure up. Instead, fill me up. Fill me up with more of you.