Do you belong? Find Identity in God’s Family
Topics to Dig Into
The 2nd grader stepped down from the yellow bus, his right hand reaching for his mother’s. As they moseyed toward the house, the boy seemed troubled by his day at school. Stepping through the kitchen door, he released his mom’s hand and tapped a finger to his left chest, “I want something here.”
In the early 80’s, only a select few brands sewed identifying logos on the outside of their shirts. Izod Lacoste was quite popular. The crocodile subtly announced prestige. It was a status symbol.
This child wanted to fit in with others in his class. He admired the crocodile boys, perhaps envied them. Without a crocodile he was different. In a small boy’s mind, the marker defined belonging.
Don’t we all desire belonging? To fit in?
If you’ve ever been on the outside looking in, you know the feeling. This universal desire to be part of the group can impact our decisions, especially in those years when we’re discovering who we are and what we value.
It’s true of adults, too. We want a big job title and lots of social media followers. We wear the most popular fitness clothing brand, drive the right car, live in the best neighborhood, display a prestigious college bumper sticker.
God’s acceptance doesn’t hinge on performance or possessions. God “does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
All people groups belong in God’s house.
Whoever we are, wherever we call home, and whatever our brand of lipstick, God welcomes us. His “house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:7) Note that our English translations use the word nations but national boundaries hadn’t been drawn yet. The original Hebrew is closer to ethnicities, tribes, or people groups. All people groups belong in God’s house.
God seeks us out.
God notices our absence. He leaves the flock of 99 when He discovers us missing, then celebrates when we’re back in the fold where we belong (Luke 15:3-7). God searches and calls out “come to me all you who are weary and burdened” from striving to find belonging “and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
God adopts us.
God then binds us together with the rest of His family. God is the Father, the head of the household, and Jesus the firstborn Son. The rest of us join the family as adoptees, “no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Crocodiles lose favor. Worldly status fades. But God’s love never does. What the world offers is temporary, but God’s invitation into His family is now and forever. We see this in the security offered by ancient adoption practices.
In biblical times, adoption wasn’t about rescuing infants—it was a deliberate choice to bring someone into a family, most often an adult, giving them a new name, identity, and inheritance. This mirrors how God chooses us, offering the full rights of His family.
What does it mean to be adopted by God?
A 1st century adoptee separated completely from their original family. Their new name carried a reputation, a set of values, and demanded family loyalty.
Adopted siblings were equal in all ways to the family’s biological offspring. Adoptees participated fully in the family’s inheritance and privileges, but also the responsibility of maintaining the family’s honor. Privilege and responsibility.
These ancient adoption practices define our adoption by God. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:17) Privilege and responsibility.
God, our good and perfect Father, declares that we belong in His family. We claim the promises and privileges of God’s name as well as the heavy responsibility of living by the family values and upholding His reputation. We pledge our allegiance to God.
How does being God’s beloved, adopted child impact your life?
Reflect:
- Where are you seeking belonging?
- How do external markers help you achieve belonging?
- Think of a time this week when you felt like an outsider.
- How might viewing yourself as God’s adopted child have changed that moment?
Receive:
- Receive God’s loving invitation as you meditate on Ephesians 2:19-22 and Romans 8:17.
- Rest in the truth of your spiritual adoption, and let His love redefine your sense of worth.
Discover the clue buried in the Christmas story that affirms the Good News is for all people groups.
Also read how one of the responsibilities of being in God’s family is devoting ourselves to His work with the help of the Holy Spirit.
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I’ve had both different seasons and different situations where I’ve felt like an outsider. Depending on my frame of mind, at the time, often influenced this sense of being on the outside. In hindsight, so much of it was likely dependent on my outlook.
This post is a great reminder that we can go beyond our mood, our situation, our perceived “place” in or at our family/job/neighborhood/group/church/community/club, etc
And rely on belong g first and foremost to God.
Good point – our life circumstances might impact whether we feel inside or outside. No matter what we feel or what we’re going through, we belong to God.