Belonging

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2 NIV

Introduction: There are times in life when you need a good loving snuggle to feel secure. You need someone to wrap their arms around you and let you know that you are loved.

Everyone likes to belong to something.

Years ago, I went to a doctor appointment with my daughter Jessica and her son Conner. Jessica had the appointment and I was along to watch Conner while she saw the doctor.

Everything was going along fine, and Conner was exploring the waiting room. He was in the stage of just learning to walk and everything was new and nice to explore. Another man waiting for his appointment decided to be friendly and started talking to Conner then he reaches out to be friendly. This movement scared Conner and he took off in a waddling run and came to Pap-Paw. He quickly got into my lap and snuggled up.

There are times in life when you need a good loving snuggle to feel secure. You need someone to wrap their arms around you and let you know that you are loved.

Belonging to something seems almost innate, and who knows, it may be a part of our DNA. There are groups that we are born into. Such as a country. You are proud to be a part of the nation you are from. Your employment might be a source of close camaraderie; you may be a nurse, a fire fighter, a teacher, or many more. In this you find support. You have a deep seeded emotional feeling when you talk about your vocation.

There are many things that you may be a part of that brings emotional ties to the surface. If you get two people discussing their opposing sporting teams, they are fans of, it may end up with a strong confrontation.

You can see a small example of a rivalry in the Bible.

11. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” (I Corinthians 1: 11-12 NIV)

Paul admonishes the people involved with this in the following verses.

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name… (1 Corinthians 1: 13-15 NIV)

When you choose to belong to something be incredibly careful. Ask yourself: does it take anything away from my walk with Christ? Does it improve or tear down society? How will it affect my personal life?

Joining a church is not the same as joining a club or an organization. You must become a Christian before joining a church. Your life will be transformed into something wonderful if you allow the Holy Spirit to live within you.

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2: 1-4 NIV

This is what it means to belong to the church!

Uniting with a brotherly love for each other. Belonging to each other. The church is not a brick and mortar building. It is people, more so it is Christians that is united in love. It is a place of belonging to something where the sum is greater than its parts.

You belong to the father; you have been bought with a price. That price is the blood of Christ coming from the wound on Calvary. You belong to God. He is your Father.

The church must work with peace and unity.

14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 4: 14-15