And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:6
We can never get a re-creation of community and heal our society without giving our citizens a sense of belonging. - Patch Adams
Growing up, I had the blessing of big family, lots of aunts and uncles and cousins on both sides. Both my grandparents lived in the same town, my parents were high-school sweet hearts, so a visit for holidays was always a large gathering and the making of wonderful memories. Meals were banquets, and of course, "family style." There was always a seat at the table, and an environment for me to be me; to play, listen to stories, be asked questions, enjoy, and be enjoyed. I knew I belonged;my seat at the table came with all the privileges of being in my family.
The wild and wonderful thing was, I didn’t create that seat … it was created for me. Arranged by the ones who loved me and expected me to sit in it … and if ever I wasn’t, they wondered maybe even were disappointed the seat was empty, “Where’s Michael?”
Belonging, is something you feel, something you experience and something grand for the heart. Honestly, it is easy to take for granted, and it only takes a few moments in life when and where it isn’t offered or isn’t present that impact you for the worse. Whenever a heart is told or feels they don’t belong and that ache of diminishment or painful whisper, "you're not enough to be included, wanted, arranged for,” bruises our most hopeful desires and invites us to not hope again.
God does us the honor and privilege of creating us a space, a place to be us. The Father gives us a seat at His table through the Son, Christ, where They know we truly belong. God has moved heaven and earth to make that invitation to us, a spot reserved for us in the Redemptive Community—a place in His family.
I pray you know you are wanted, needed, and missed when you are going … that you know your place in the Kingdom, the seat that is yours and yours alone. This is the banquet table of the King and the celebration begins when you show up knowing you belong and it continues when your seat is pulled back and you occupy the space that is for you and you alone. The privileges and benefits go on and on as we enjoy the company of Love and celebrate or are celebrated by all those who are redeemed, restored, and being re-created for the Life Everlasting, all those in the family. What a hope … what an honor. I pray you know your place at the table.