Friday, July 19, 2013

Belonging


Linking up again with Five Minute Friday, where you take the dare to write for five unedited minutes. This week we are writing about "Belonging".

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Don’t think he didn’t know what he was doing.
He most certainly did.
This persecutor turned follower.
This wayward son turned to the way.
This apostle whose name change came along with a heart change.

Paul, he knew exactly what he was doing.

In Romans, Paul writes that through faith 
we come to be a part of Christ’s body.
And all it’s parts belong to one another.
Paul writes of the value of the body 
in an age where intellectuals 
dared to philosophize that the physical world was meaningless.
Belief and spirituality were existential 
and the material realm was insignificant.
But in the midst of a culture with gnostic thinking, 
this Paul shouts the importance of the body...in particular, a body.

The one that belongs to Christ.
Submitted under His headship.
The one where every one is valued.
Important.
Favored.
Necessary.

And, when in faith, I find myself belonging to Christ
I also find myself belonging to others who share my faith.
And they belong to me.

And it seems, that this ancient man of Jewish heritage
knew belonging begets belonging.
And belonging begets responsibility.
And consideration.
And compassion.
And humility.


Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,
so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, 
and we all belong to each other.
Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)


6 comments:

  1. Hi Niki, your neighbor from FmF. Reading your post I kept hoping that you would mention that you belong with yourself too. God does come first and He is always with us, a wonderful knowledge. I would like you to know that you are your own best friend too.
    Have a great weekend,
    Patricia

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    1. Patricia -

      Thank you for stopping by! I commented on your lovely post about Belonging.

      As I read your own story on your blog - the grief, the journey, the healing, the living - I was inspired. I suppose that's why I so appreciate your insight about belonging to self. I do admit this is an area with which I struggle - to be comfortable in my own unique skin and to allow myself grace. Definitely something to ponder and think on.

      Thanks again and blessings to you this weekend!

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  2. Niki,
    The picture in the post is the perfect picture of belonging. Piling on top of one another just so everyone can be included. Ahhh, Paul he is one of my faves. Thanks for the write.

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    Replies
    1. Love your phrase "piling on top of one another". What an image!

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I'm always overwhelmed by the instant connection with other believers because of our one Faith. I've been to several large Christian conferences that included small group sessions throughout, and no matter where the others were from, what their background was, etc., etc., that all was just "little" alongside our common belief in Christ. What an amazing thing: each of us has such a large family as children of God!

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