Some of us are so addicted to belonging that we take whoever accepts us first.

 

Whew.

Been there.

It’s a dangerous place to be.

Yet Jesus is so into a life of “Being ye set apart…”

 

Belonging can’t be your boss, or you will end up in circles where you’ll have to compromise who you are in Christ just to “belong.”

 

You’ll settle for an “Imma be like them” life instead of an “Imma uniquely made masterpiece” kind of life.

 

Your belonging membership card will keep you bound to whatever circle owns you.

 

A misplaced need for belonging will draw you to unhealthy and toxic needs. Abusive places and spaces. Spiritual merry-go-rounds that make your head spin.

 

Truth will likely not be rooted deep because your belonging is a heart need, not a Kingdom need.

 

We can all talk about this even in church circles, but if belonging becomes a heavy-weight need, you’ll stay when that church teaches error. You’ll stay when that church shifts into deception. You’ll stay because belonging was more important than following Jesus and, much to our surprise and our current teachings, many of those same Jesus disciples we read about followed Him alone or at least with just a few.

 

You didn’t see John the Baptist pulling a grand circle of friends with him. He walked out of that wilderness alone but on a mission.

 

You didn’t see Elijah and Elisha surrounded by allies, and you didn’t see Jesus often with huge crowds unless they merely wanted a need met.

 

When He began to explain what it really takes to follow Him, more people left than stayed.

 

I won’t be the girl that promises you a tribe that walks this Jesus life with you because often it just ain’t that way.

 

It is the cost of following Jesus to be set apart in ways of aloneness in some seasons.

 

And in those times when I do find a sort of crowd running together…I watch and wait…

 

It might be a bit like a gypsy tribe. Always carrying a personal agenda rather than a Kingdom agenda. Peddlers with a purpose, and if you’ll stand back and quietly watch for a while that agenda usually shows itself.

 

Be so careful that a need to belong does not walk you into a snare of counterfeit circles with wolves in sheep’s clothing.

 

So be content and rejoice, dear one, if you don’t belong. Know who you are in Christ, so belonging isn’t the most important of all things. You belong to Him and that is the secure and safe place.

 

The truth is…this world is not our home and following Jesus will call you often to a “set-apartness” often spoken of by the Apostle Paul like this…

 

“All of Asia has left me…”

 

And yet…He followed…