Have you ever longed to belong?

In the Bible, lepers longed to belong. People treated them like freaks and avoided contact with them. They were ostracized from their communities and forced to live outside their cities. Alone.

Their deteriorating skin haunted them while people recognized them by their torn clothes, unkempt hair, and covered upper lips. They were forced to call “unclean, unclean” wherever they went (Leviticus 13:45-46).

Lepers couldn’t hug their loved ones, visit their friends, or shop in their local communities. They would have been excluded from Passover and worship at the Synagogue.

Until one day, Jesus entered a village on his way to Jerusalem and heard people yelling His name.

“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13)

Jesus looked around and saw ten lepers standing far off - longing to be healed and accepted. He knew their pain just like He knows ours.

“Jesus said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests. And while they were going, they were healed.” (Luke 17:14)

Could you imagine the relief? The excitement?

Out of the ten lepers only one stopped and turned around, a foreigner who fell down at Jesus’ feet and worshiped Him.

He belonged to his community again, but most importantly he belonged to God’s family just like we do if we know Jesus as our Savior.

As God’s children, what a comfort that we belong to God’s family even if others exclude us from things here on earth, or we don’t like our circumstances (I’m sure the lepers didn’t want their leprosy).

We can remember that we are not alone or forgotten. God sees and hears us just like He did the lepers. Our identity is in Christ and we are secure in Him.

“Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 44:21 NLT)

So, when you face a situation where you long to belong, remember, as God’s child, you always belong to Him. You are not forgotten but loved and accepted.