November 14 devotion

Dr. Gary G. Kindley
Pastoral Counselor at Cathedral of Hope UCC, Dallas, TX
www.drgk.org

Scripture 
"This is how much God loved the world: God gave God's Son, God's one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Christ, anyone can have a whole and lasting life." (John 3:16 adapted from The Message translation)

"Belonging or Behaving?"
In both simple and complex ways, people have used various words and expressions in an attempt to define what it means to be a Christian. The theologian, Karl Barth, once summarized his Christian theology with the familiar lyrics of a song I learned as a child: "Jesus loves me, this I know because the Bible tells me so." One of my favorite definitions of what it means to be a Christian is a simple statement of belonging: "A Christian is someone who belongs to Jesus."

What does it mean to belong to Jesus? For me, it means to be valued and accepted just as you are, whoever you are. Jesus really does love you! That is the heart of the Good News!

I want to belong. I want to be accepted. I want to matter—to make a difference in the world. The Christ doesn't start with my behavior and say, "You must act a particular way, be a particular way, or think a particular way in order for me to love you." Belonging comes before behavior is even considered! The Apostle Paul confirmed this in his teaching when he said, ". . . while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

If you are having a tough time, this message is for you. If you are in a difficult place in your journey, if your life is not coming together as you had hoped, or if you are just feeling like a failure who has never measured up to others, you especially need to hear and claim this truth. You belong to Jesus. You belong to God. You have been named, claimed, forgiven and empowered. When you accept this and begin to live into what this means for your life, you can make whatever changes are necessary to make the rest of your life a legacy of love. Once we truly claim that we belong to Jesus, we have all the power we need to make a powerful difference as someone who loves and is loved.

Prayer 
Thank you, Holy God, for showing me how valuable I am by loving me just as I am and then calling me to be better. Grant me the strength this day to live up to Jesus' example of what it is to lead a loving and fulfilling life in the service of others. Amen.