Tag Archives: belonging

The only God

20 Wednesday Jul 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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You are the LORD’s people!
    So celebrate and praise the only God (Psalm 97:12, CEV).

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Celebrate God’s goodness — photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is celebration.

One of our greatest needs is a need for belonging. We need to belong to something or someone. For many, family is the primary source for fulfilling that need. But people also join churches, service clubs and a whole host of worthwhile organizations. On the negative side of the equation, criminal gangs prey on outcasts because of their innate need to belong.

God placed within in us this desire to belong. His desire is that we come to the realization that we belong to Him. He made us and redeemed us. Today’s verse from the Psalms reflects this truth:

You are the LORD’s people! So celebrate and praise the only God (Psalm 97:12, CEV).

Jesus taught us that first and foremost God is not our enemy or our judge. He is our loving heavenly Father. He wants us to be part of His great human family. He loves and cares for us more deeply than any human parent could. So take some time right now to celebrate and praise the only God, who loves you with an everlasting love.

Response: LORD God, thank you for loving me and welcoming me into your family. Heavenly Father, I love you. I belong to you; I am yours. I celebrate your goodness. Amen.

Your Turn: To whom do you belong? Do you belong to the LORD?

Ownership

22 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture (Psalm 100:3, CEV).

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The Ottawa River Valley as seen from the Gatineau Park Escarpment — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creation.

So many of the divisive issues that convulse our society have a deeper root. Whether it is issues around gender and sexuality, or race and ethnicity, scratch below the surface and you soon discover the foundational issue. The foundational issue is do you believe in God. More specifically, do you believe God created you? Do you believe He has an ownership claim on your life?

The psalmist states this root issue quite succinctly:

You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture (Psalm 100:3, CEV).

If you accept the premise that God created humanity and therefore has ownership of our lives and “Creator’s rights,” then we know our bodies belong to Him. We are ultimately accountable to Him for how we use the gift of our sexuality. We are his people, the sheep in his pasture. 

Furthermore, there are no racially superior people. The LORD God made them all and offered up His Son to redeem them all.

The root issue is ownership. Do you belong to God or are you god?

Response: LORD God, I acknowledge that you created me. I belong to you. I was bought by the precious blood of Jesus. Help me to daily reflect the great love you have for me. Amen.

Your Turn: Whom do you belong to? Do you believe in Creator’s rights?

Belonging

30 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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All who worship the LORD, now praise him! You belong to Jacob’s family and to the people of Israel, so fear and honor the LORD! (Psalm 22:23, CEV).

Crofter's Home

Crofter’s Home, New Shieling, Cape Breton, N.S. —photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is worship.

We all need a place of belonging—a home. But it’s not just a home or a house that we need. We need to belong to a household or family. On Christmas Day my son called me from across the country, 2,000 miles away. It was great to hear his voice.

Why did he call? Because he  knows where he belongs.

You belong too. You belong to God’s great family. Give Him a call today. He will be thrilled to hear your voice.

Response: LORD God, thank you for welcoming me into your family. I belong to you. I praise and worship you. I fear and honor you for your great love. Amen.

Your Turn: How do you show that you belong to God’s family?