Called to Belong
Scripture Reading: Romans 1:1–7 (ESV)
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Paul opens his letter to the Romans, he wastes no time reminding his readers who they are and whose they are. He introduces himself as a servant of Christ Jesus, set apart for the gospel of God. Then, almost immediately, he shifts the focus to his audience. They are loved by God and called to be saints. This is more than a greeting. It is an anchor for identity.
In a world that constantly tries to tell us who we are based on our performance, possessions, or popularity, Paul points us to a deeper truth. Our worth is rooted in belonging to Jesus. The gospel he speaks of is not a set of rules to follow but the announcement that through Jesus Christ, God has fulfilled His promises and welcomed us into His family.
As we begin these forty days in Romans, we are stepping into a story much bigger than our own. We are part of God’s redemptive plan, called to live out our faith in the everyday moments. Let us start here, remembering that before we do anything for Him, we simply belong to Him.
Prayer Points:
Thank God that you are loved and called by Him.
Ask the Lord to deepen your understanding of what it means to belong to Jesus.
Pray for our church family to be rooted in identity before activity.