40 Days In Christ - Week 3: Belonging
David Widjaja

When I was young, I made the mistake of searching something on the family iPad, only for my Dad to find out. My face froze in shame, as my thoughts responded to the situation saying “My Dad is a pastor. How can I be his son? I don’t deserve and don’t should never belong to this family.”

Sharing this with my mum, she responded in a way I’ll carry forever in my life “There is nothing you can do or be that would make you less of his son!”

Some of us read the scripture above, and realise and fully know we belong to Christ, but yet are still left in longing to be a part of His family. We believe “If I just do this one thing, I’ll be a better son” or “That person is a better Christian than I am, I wish God would see me they way they see them!”

In Galatians, Paul was speaking to a bunch of new Christian who were thinking the same thing! The Galatians were once Spirit-filled Jesus lovers, only for their joy and gratefulness to be lost when some other Christians (we’ll call them the Judaizers) said you aren’t a part of the family till you do this one thing.

If you’ve been wrestling with God, thinking:
“Father, I’m Christian BUT, I don’t worship as good as others do”
“Father, I’m Christian BUT, I don’t pray as well as others do”
“Father, I’m Christian BUT, I don’t feel you as well as others do”
“Father, I must be a lesser Christian…”

Here’s the words God wants to say to you today, “There is no Jew nor Gentile, nor slave or free, male and female. But you are all one in Christ.”

In other words, “There is no lesser Christian, greater Christian, or anything you can do or be to be more of My child!”

Our Father loves you, Our Father sees you as worthy, Our Father wants to be with you! Not because of anything you have ever done or be, but because of what Christ as done on that wooden cross.

So where do we go from here? Paul gives us two roads: to believe the lies of the devil or to believe the truth of Christ. To walk in the truth of the world, or in the truth of the cross. When we walk in Christ, we live in freedom, called to be a blessing to all nations.

We do not use our freedom to satisfy sinful desires, but to serve one another in love. “Now that you know God—or rather are known by God—why do you want to go back again and become slaves to weak and useless spiritual principles?”

If you’ve lost that joyful and grateful spirit, if you feel locked out of belonging, come back in. It’s time to listen to His voice, to be Spirit-filled, to belong in Christ once again—as one.

The Spirit has been poured into our hearts, calling out, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6).

You are His child. You belong.

[1] Write down your prayer requests
- Personal needs
- Friends and family who are yet to discover Christ

[2] Join us in a daily 8am prayer call on WhatsApp

[3] Attempt a fast. This could involve giving up one meal a week or one meal each day, fasting for one day a week, or undertaking an extended fast at various times during the forty days. There is no pressure or expectation on anybody. This is simply an invitation to respond as you feel led by the Spirit.

At the end of the forty days, I will be asking us to reflect on what God has done. My hope is that all we are seeking from God is found in Christ.