In his book called “TRUE RED”, the ex-Mongrel Mob Gang Leader Tuhoe Isaac writes that at a very crucial time in his life he believed that the Mongrel Mob gave him not only a total sense of belonging, but that there he found also true acceptance.
Where do we find a sense of belonging? Where do we find acceptance? It seems that “belonging” and “acceptance” are very important words in our lives.
You have read already why I say that.
So I think it behooves us to find out what “THE BOOK OF BOOK”, (The Bible) says about those two important words.
ACCEPTANCE:
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved,” we read in Ephesians 1:6. (King James Version)
BELONGING:
In Romans 1:6 the Apostle Paul writes to the Romans, “And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” (NIV) And in Romans 14:8 we read, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
I love especially 1 Peter 2:9, where we read, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, …” The verse goes on, but I can stop here, because here “a people belonging to God,” is mentioned.
Let us remember again that all the letters in the New Testament are written to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, including Ephesians, Romans and First Peter.
NOW Tuhoe Isaac believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we belong to Him, and those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ God graciously accepts though they do not deserve it.
It was a privilege to meet Tuhoe Isaac some years ago here in Kaitaia in Commerce Street, where he sold his books. We even prayed together if I remember right.
