“There is no condemnation to those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 NLT
“The emptiness you try to fill with others’ company is a misdirected reach of your heart for God.”
My thoughts today are about “belonging and blessings.”
Everyone wants to belong somewhere and to someone. People were not made for isolation; by our Creator, you were designed for community, with God and with others. People love to belong to groups – book clubs, health clubs, fan clubs, business circles, civic groups, service organizations, charities, Bible studies, churches, and nameless others. Who could count the number of affinity groups worldwide of every stripe and kind, small and large circles of people who share a common interest? A person’s interests are encouraged and reinforced by their common experience and shared enjoyment with others. Who would enjoy sitting in an empty stadium to watch their favorite sports team if there were no others to share their enthusiasm? What team would enjoy playing with no one watching? Some experiences just aren’t the same without someone to share them. Good news never seems the same if you have no one with whom to share your joy.
Man’s history began with God’s pronouncement, “It is not good that man should be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him,” and later the Bible adds, “God sets the solitary in families.” Genesis 2:18/Psalm 68:6 NKJV. That longing to be joined meaningfully with others is really the outward expression of a person’s heart to experience personal fellowship with God. The emptiness of soul you try to fill with others’ company is the misdirected reach of your heart for God.
The problem? As we were, you and I are incompatible with God. Since God does not change, you must if you are to enjoy a meaningful, personal relationship with a holy God. But how does any of us change our nature? God’s solution? The very things that would separate you from God have been removed by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for every wrong and evil thing you’ve ever done. “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ, (who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit/NKJV). For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 8:1-2 NLT. For those belonging to Christ, no condemnation! You can be assured of this, “The Lord knows those who are His.” 2 Timothy 2:19 NIV.
Condemnation is that miserable feeling inside that everything is not right with God; His forgiveness and your faith is the only remedy. “If we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from every sin . . if we confess our sins to him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from every wrong.” 1 John 1:7/9 NLT. Upon the truths of forgiveness and grace, your comfort and confidence as a child of God rests.
With this powerful announcement, the Apostle Paul sums up the guaranteed result of a life that truly belongs to Christ, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life . . nor things present nor things to come . . nor any other created thing, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NKJV/NLT. Here’s the key to your release into that glorious truth. The certainty of God’s love now and forever rests in the heart that holds the firm conviction of the sufficiency of God’s grace. No condemnation; no separation!
My prayer for you today is that you live in God’s love, ever secure in His grace.