Knowing You Belong by Karena Lout

 “The conclusion is clear, you are no longer standing as a stranger

or a second grade citizen, you are where you belong; you are a joint indigenous 

inhabitant of your own country and part of an intimate

family where no one is suspicious, inferior or condemned.”

                                     Eph. 2:19 (Mirror Translation)

Over the years I’ve noticed the difference in how comfortable my kids’ friends are when they come over. Some will wait until asked if they’d like something to eat and others will walk in, open the fridge, help themselves to whatever they can find and plop on the couch. It’s pretty obvious which ones know they belong and don’t hesitate in responding otherwise. Todd and I have actually felt at ease when we’ve hadcompany stay with us, and they feel comfortable enough to make themselves at home.

  

I recently read the story of Mary of Bethany with new lenses, discovering she knew a real sense of belonging. (John 12:1-8). I’ve always been moved by her radical devotion as she poured out expensive perfume, a year’s wages, at the feet of Jesus. What beautiful extravagance! The disciples were upset by her outpouring of love, disputing that the perfume could have been spent on the poor. But Mary was preparing Jesus for His burial. I wonder if she understood the eternal significance of her act of love, that she would be united with her Beloved One through His death on the cross. I began thinking about how Mary approached Jesus without shame. She was surrounded by men, yet she didn’t hesitate to wipe Jesus’ feet with her hair. Women never unveiled their hair in public.

Mary knew intimacy without walls. She knew she belonged. This is a God given desire in all of us, yet so many people still feel like an orphan, like an outsider looking in. Maybe growing up, your parents weren’t available for you when you needed them. Maybe you were always the last person picked for the kickball team. Maybe you never felt like you “fit in” growing up. Maybe you feel like you’re the only Christian who struggles with depression. Maybe you feel like if people really find out what you’re “really like,” they won’t accept you. There are a lot of reasons we put up walls to protect our heart. We have knowingly and even unknowingly made decisions why we need to keep people and the Father at a safe distance.

  

I want to encourage you to begin asking Jesus some questions today on your journey to settling into a place of real belonging in Him. What would it look like to trust you with the job of protecting my heart? Is there any part of me that still feels like an outsider? Jesus, what truth do you want me to know about that? What does it look like to belong to You?

I pray that if you’ve never known inclusion before, you would see your chair at the family table waiting for you with your name on it. I pray that you would know and experience real belonging in the Father’s arms today. Jesus paid the ultimate price to have you as His very own for all eternity so you could approach Him with full confidence.

                                                                                           Love, Karena