…about belonging
There is something in the book of Leviticus that just won’t let me go. Every time God gave a law or said for them to do something or not do something He gave the reason as, “Be holy for I am holy.” God chose a man, Abram, and decided to make a nation from his descendants. God’s purpose was to make that nation “look” like Himself in the way they lived and treated each other and outsiders. God set them apart for His own use…which is one aspect of the word “holy.” God wanted the Israelites to be different from every other nation on earth!
My whole life, I have wanted to “fit in”; to be a part of the group; to be liked. Many of us have complained about the fact that our country, which was founded on Christian principles and to allow us the freedom to worship how we saw fit, now almost outlaws Christianity! Every other religion in the world is accepted but the founding religion is hated and banned because of its exclusivity (there is only one way to God and heaven).
I have had a change of mind and heart. Not only are you and I different, we should have been expecting it from the beginning. Listen to Jesus and the Apostles.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (a purchased possession for a specific purpose) people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9)
You don’t have to know a whole lot of Jewish history to know that Israel as a nation did not trust God and perform as they should have as God’s Chosen people. Part A of God’s plan showed just how incapable we are of living lives that glorify Him. You and I are a part of Part B of God’s plan — His Church.
Ephesians 2:11-22(KJV) “ Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
In this passage, Paul has turned “belonging” on its head. We are no longer the outsiders. Because of Christ, WE are the ones on the INSIDE and all those who want to get to God and heaven in their own way are the ones who don’t belong!
I encourage us all to live lives that are DIFFERENT — Holy and pleasing to God!