The Joy of Belonging to God
In most things that matter in life it is always better and much more important to know by experience than to know simply by the mind. It makes more sense to have experienced love than to have read about it in books. (This is not to be confused with those people who, out of serious self-doubt, will not be able to experience love even if you show it to them). Just the same way, it is naturally more helpful to know by experience the value of family than to know about it from reading books. This truth is even more urgent when it comes to our knowledge of God. It is transformational to know truly by experience that we belong to God; that “I” belong to God, than to simply know it intellectually because we have read about it, or were raised that way.
Intellectual knowledge of what love means does not release the emotions of joy and gladness that lie deep within us. Only love experienced has the power to heal, transform and release the joy deep within us because love makes us value ourselves, makes us feel accepted, loved and loveable. This self-acceptance is what releases us from paralyzing insecurity and self-preoccupation that often make it difficult even to see love when it is given freely.
Knowing by experience that we belong to God, releases us from the fear that often cripple us. The whole message of the Kingdom of God is that we belong to God. In Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God is nearer than ever, and God’s Kingdom is not a territory or a place ruled by God as a king. Rather, the Kingdom of God is the state or condition in which God reigns supreme! God reigns in our hearts, families, Church community, and society when we learn to discern and do His will. Kingdom of God is perfectly in Jesus Christ because Jesus himself perfectly obeyed the Father’s will even onto death. He knew he totally belonged to God and proclaimed that His food was to do the will of the Father who sent him (Jn.4:34).
The Kingdom of God is the central message of Jesus, it was what he sent out his disciples to preach: “The Kingdom of God is upon you” (Mk. 1:15;Lk. 9:2). That announcement means that men and women should wake up from sleep and know who they are – children of God, and as children of God, they are also children of the Kingdom. They should let God reign in their lives through discerning obedience to Him. It is obedience to God’s will that frees us from the many false and unnecessary sufferings we encounter in this life. To enter this Kingdom and enjoy it, we need to trust God as a child does (Mt. 18:3); we need to have a forgiving spirit (Mt: 18: 23-35). It is the power of love released by giving ourselves to the Lordship of God that brings about healing.
You see, my brothers and sisters, it is not enough to be born a Christian or a Catholic. It is not enough to be raised as one. You must make a conscious decision to choose God and the values of the Gospel each moment of your life. We cannot sleepwalk and call it Christianity! We must make a serious decision to let God in His Christ reign in our lives. And when God reigns, we ask at every turn in our life: Is this God’s plan for my life? Is this what God is asking me to do? Imagine how different our lives and relationships would be if we were to ask that question each time? Yet, unless we ask that question, we can hardly experience the deep joy that awaits those who know they belong to God. Remain blessed, child of the Kingdom!
Fr Okeke