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)