Belonging to the People of God
Scripture
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
– 1 Peter 2:9-10, NRSV
Reflection
Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong anywhere?
It is human nature to seek out a feeling of belonging and to try to find people like you. The advent of the internet has opened up a new way for people who feel like black sheep, oddballs, or lone wolves to be able to find community based on their interests, their talents, or their passions.
People like to know that they aren’t alone in the world, that they are part of a group who supports them, even if that group exists outside of their families, neighbors or coworkers, and they search far and wide to find that support.
For example, in a world where females in ministry are not the norm, I’ve found community in a Facebook group of women pastors who can understand the unique challenges that come with being a pastor who is also a lady. We talk about everything from facing unsupportive family members, to pulpit-friendly fashion.
My husband, both a photographer and a car enthusiast, likes to connect with other car photographers on Instagram and can talk about cars in a way that I cannot engage with him.
It’s a blessing to find community, whether near or far.
But Peter gives the church beautiful news here that so often we take for granted: “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.”
The Church is a diverse community with a whole lot of perspectives, interests, points of view, and life experiences. We may not have anything else in common with one another, but we have our faith. In Church, we have a community to support one another, appreciating our diversity as a blessing, even as we cherish Christ as our commonality. What would it look like to support one another as the family of God, truly living into our shared identity as we grow in relationship together?
May we find this support in one another today.
Submitted By:
Kelsey Vincent, Pastor for Youth and Families, First Baptist Church of Decatur