Belong to Reach

Paulina De La Fuente // From the Daily Devotionals

"The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!' And he said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'" 

Luke 10:17-20 ESV

Do you know that you belong today? No matter what yesterday, this weekend, or this last season of life has looked like, you belong in God's presence. He is with you. Belonging with Him isn't a consolation prize—it isn't the team that got stuck with you because you didn't get picked. God chose you, and He continues to choose to be near you in your lowest places and your highest ones—when you feel like you have nothing left to give and when you're amazed by the ways He is using you.

When the seventy-two returned to Jesus in Luke 10, Jesus redirected their attention from the excitement of what they accomplished: "Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Their greatest reason for joy wasn't what they had done for God; it was that they belonged to Him.

That changes the way we live on mission. We get to rest in God's presence and reach from a place of belonging. The same God who sends us is the God who stays near us.

Belonging is key to reaching others because we won't invite others into places we don't feel like we belong. If we are SURE that God's presence continues to draw near no matter the disappointment, loss, or circumstance we are facing, it's easy to offer up that same gift to the world around us! I wonder how God is moving in your life right now. What's an assurance you have that only comes from faith in God? Who would be encouraged to hear that from you this week?ragraph with bold text.