Summary
Because of our sin, humans live separated from a holy God. When we receive Jesus and his cleansing our identity changes. We go from outsiders to insiders; people included into God’s family and even into the godhead itself (I in Christ and Christ in me). We belong.
This radical inclusion is the antidote to travelling through life feeling like an outsider. It’s the key to finding healing from ‘imposter syndrome’ and an ‘orphan spirit’. It frees us to be ourselves and to be radically inclusive of others.
Key Scriptures
Ephesians 2:11-13 - Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (which is done in the body by human hands) – remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:18-19 - For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household
Ephesians 2:11-13 (The Message) - But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this, didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.
Ephesians 2:18-19 (The Message) - Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father. That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country.
Ephesians 1:6 - to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which He made us accepted in the beloved.
Luke 5:32 - I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
Luke 5:12-16 - And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”
However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 19:1-10 - Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Psalm 68:5-6 - A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
Follow Up Questions
Draw a circle and think about the times when you were outside of that circle and the impact that had on you. Share if appropriate.
Think about how you were drawn into God’s circle? How did that happen? Who included you and invited you in?
Do you feel like you belong to God’s family? The frontline family? If not, why not? BTW it’s not the fault of others, it’s more internal than external! How can you experience being more fully ‘in’?
Who are the people around you that God is calling you to include?
Spend some time asking Jesus to fill you with his compassion for those people.