Living Free - June 21, 2013
I Belong!
Today's Scripture
"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." - Ephesians 1:5
Thoughts for Today
When we received Jesus, we became a member of God's family! God is our Father. Jesus is not only our Savior, He is also our brother (Hebrews 2:11-12). We are a member of the family of believers. We belong!
A true sense of belonging comes from not only knowing that we belong to God but also from belonging to each other. Many of Paul's letters in the New Testament offer guidance for successful relationships within this worldwide family. For example, he said, "Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you (Colossians 3:12-13 NLT).
Many scriptures reflect us as belonging and being accepted. Here are just a few:
- I am God's child. (John 1:12)
- I am Christ's friend. (John 15:15)
- I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
- I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
- We belong to God's family. (Ephesians 2:19)
Consider this …
Do you ever feel lonely? It is possible to feel lonely even when we are surrounded by people. But if you will look at the mirror of God's Word, you will see clearly that you belong to God--and to His family. God will always love you and will always be your perfect Father. Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you.
In the family of believers, as in any family, there will be conflicts and offenses. But we will always be family. We sometimes need to be reminded by looking in the mirror of God's Word that we will always belong to one another and need to forgive and love.
You belong to God. He has adopted you into His family. Jesus is your Savior, your friend--and your brother. You belong!
Lord, thank you for reassuring me that I am not alone. I belong! I am your child. And I am in your family. Jesus is not only my Savior and my friend, but my brother. Help me to be faithful to you--and to all my family. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …
Seeing Yourself in God's Image: Overcoming Anorexia and Bulimia by Martha Homme, MA, LPC. Written by a counselor with experience helping those with eating disorders, this study is born from her own struggles in adolescence. The group challenges members to find their identity in Christ as they overcome this difficult struggle. This guide offers understanding of distorted body image, denial, and the family systems influence. It also explains how to break free of social pressures and how to restore the temple and tie the recovery process together. A companion booklet Seeing Your Loved One in God's Image, can be used as a quick reference guide dealing with issues associated with eating disorders. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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