Down the street from the home office of GCI, there is a storefront church nestled in among a couple other businesses. Underneath the name of the church, their sign includes this slogan, “Belong, Believe, Become.” I like the phrase, especially because it is in the right order.
Belong
All of humanity belongs because of Jesus. He is the creator of every person who has ever lived. He is also our Redeemer and active mediator. The first chapter of Ephesians eloquently describes our adopted status through Jesus.
He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace Ephesians 1:5-9 NRSVA
Jesus, who is the beloved of the Father, has made us the beloved. The beautiful picture of adoption is that he chose us. Being chosen makes you feel special and satisfies the longing to belong.
In our acceptance, we are free to believe and explore. It is within the believing that we also receive.
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 NLT
As children of God, we believe that Jesus is the unique begotten Son of the Father and that he set aside his glory to take on flesh and blood. We believe that he was both man and God and walked among us proclaiming the kingdom of God. We believe that he demonstrated his godly love by going to the cross and dying in our stead. We believe he arose in glory from the tomb on the third day, that he ascended to the right hand of the Father, and that he will return to establish his unending kingdom. We believe!
We also believe that Jesus draws us to himself in personal relationships. We believe as the old hymn says, “He walks with me, and he talks to me, and he tells me I am his own.” There is a factual knowing of Jesus that may help us if there is a pop-up quiz, and there is a relational knowing of Jesus that leads us through the valley of the shadow of death, by the still waters and green pastures, and everything in between.
Become
Through the relational exploration that we share with Jesus, we become more like him. Jesus is the influencer of all influencers. Walking and talking with him, being open and aware of his presence, shapes and grows us.
I love the imagery Jesus uses when he stands above Jerusalem and expresses his desire to gather the people, like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But alas, the chicks scatter about and refuse to be gathered. I am often a maverick chick scurrying about. My best response in all circumstances is to slow down, take a breath, and know that Christ is Lord and is near.
Our becoming that is taking place in Christ is beautifully expressed in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NRSV
Brothers and sisters, it is within the context of belonging, believing, and becoming that the Lord is transforming us from one degree of glory to another one, a greater one, an eternal one.
Praising him for transformation, Greg Williams
7 thoughts on “Belong, Believe, Become”
Love all the people at GC surrey hills very thankful for all people there everyone is so loving and caring
It took me far too long to fully grasp, understand and appreciate this simple truth…in all circumstances…slow down, take a breath, and know that Christ is Lord and He is near. Thank you for the insight you share!
It’s been our motto since 2019. “Belong. Believe. Become. You belong to Jesus, so believe in Jesus, and become like Jesus.” Go Grace Communion Hanover!
Greg, thank you for this beautiful article. We join you in the wonderful reality that our “best response in all circumstances is to slow down, take a breath, and know that Christ is Lord and is near.” May this weekend be a blessing for all the Williams family mom’s who have children gathering around them. Love, prayers and blessings to you and yours
Love all the people at GC surrey hills very thankful for all people there everyone is so loving and caring
„Belong, Believe, Become.” Amen, Amen and Amen !
It took me far too long to fully grasp, understand and appreciate this simple truth…in all circumstances…slow down, take a breath, and know that Christ is Lord and He is near.
Thank you for the insight you share!
It’s been our motto since 2019. “Belong. Believe. Become. You belong to Jesus, so believe in Jesus, and become like Jesus.” Go Grace Communion Hanover!
We live , stand and walk by FAITH in Him for we are complete and burried in Him (JESUS CHRIST) A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR REYNALDO BASALIO
Greg, thank you for this beautiful article. We join you in the wonderful reality that our “best response in all circumstances is to slow down, take a breath, and know that Christ is Lord and is near.” May this weekend be a blessing for all the Williams family mom’s who have children gathering around them. Love, prayers and blessings to you and yours
I slowed down, took a breath, and felt Jesus’ presence, and finally read your letter posted a week ago. Thank you!