One of the most basic needs of humans is to "belong". In 1943, the psychologist, Abraham Maslow, published a paper detailing his "hierarchy of needs". The most basic needs are physiological. This is why it is difficult to teach a hungry child; this is the major justification behind school breakfast programs. The second most basic need, according to Maslow, is "safety". Humans need to feel reasonably sure that nothing catastrophic is going to happen to them in any given situation. Next on the list is the need I'm focusing on this morning, the need to belong, to feel a part of something larger than yourself.
We see this in society in all kinds of positive and also perverted ways. For instance, kids on a playground gravitate to those children they deem to be most like themselves. Young adults and older adults join groups of people with whom they share common interests. Disaffection, feeling unrelatable to others, is a bad thing. Left to their own devices, people will sometimes choose to attach themselves to groups that are nefarious and harmful, both to themselves and to others. Why do you think that "street gangs" are so popular? Why do "rudder-less" young men join ISIS and/or Al Qaeda?
Man was created for fellowship with other people, but more importantly with God. In 1 Peter 2:9-10, the apostle describes God's "clan" like this:
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
You can't be part of a clan unless you share a common lineage. In this case, our lineage comes through the new birth into Jesus Christ. The decision to follow Christ, the salvation decision, is the common thread, the scarlet thread, that connects God's children, across the world.
So, if you, Believer, were asked to describe your God clan, what would you say? This is what Peter said:
- God chose the Church of Jesus Christ to proclaim His praises and spread the gospel. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 makes it plain that we are God's instrument for this purpose. (See also John 15:16 and Ephesians 1:3.)
- God calls us "royalty", a royal priesthood. We know longer need a priest, either of the Levitical type of the Old Testament, or the modern type of the Orthodox or Catholic churches. Jesus Christ Himself, we read in Hebrews 4:14-16, is our High Priest, who makes intercession for us. We can, therefore, boldly approach God's throne through the power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us, and in the name of Jesus Christ. God's sons and daughters are princes and princesses.
- God sees us as a holy nation. This is because the blood of Jesus Christ covers all our sins and removes them as far as the east is from the west. (Ps. 103:12)
- God calls us a "peculiar people" (KJV). This doesn't mean what you think it does! The word "peculiar" is from the Latin "pecus", which means "flock". He is saying that we are His Flock. The actual Greek word is "peripoiesis", which has a connotation of personal property. The NASB translates it as "a people for God's own possession". We see this same word in Ephesians 1:13-14 - - -
13In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
- Until Jesus Christ came to earth and paid for the sins of ALL mankind, the disparate peoples of the earth had no scarlet thread that was common to all. But, Christ's blood sacrifice is made available to all, not just to the Jews. Now, anyone, from any people group, can come to Jesus Christ for mercy, for salvation. Jesus' blood is that unifier, that "scarlet thread". You "who once were not a people, but are now the people of God...." How beautiful is our God! How beautiful is the Body of Christ!
In the next blog post, on Monday, I want to apply this in a deeper way. Join me then.
Father God, in my own life, Satan tries constantly to attack my position in You. When troubles, trials and tears come, I am tempted to forget who I am and WHOSE I am. This passage from Your Holy Word so encourages me because it reminds me that I am part of Your Chosen People. I cannot express my gratitude to be a member of The Clan, the greatest Family in the history of the world. Yes, there are persecutions that accrue to membership in this Body of Christ. In the middle of them, may we who belong never forget our tremendous benefits, the overwhelming riches that are ours in Christ Jesus! It is in His matchless name I pray, Amen.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs
http://www.awordfromtheword.org/a-peculiar-people
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