You Belong with Him
You probably had to be there to appreciate it. I'm a High School teacher and this semester, I was "chosen" to be part of an experiment in gender exclusive classes. What this means is that for one of my sections, I have 22 freshmen, sophomore, and junior girls.
An entire class of girls. That's right…no boys.
To be sure, there are guys begging me to let them transfer in, but to be honest, it's kinda nice having 5 periods a week when I don't have to deal with the after-smell of either freshmen who haven't figured out the whole showering thing or sophomores who are daily drenching themselves in a can of Axe.
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I must admit I first thought this class was going to be a train wreck, because there were girls from all different cliques. And sure enough, for the first few weeks there were whispers, mocking smiles, and if looks could kill, it would have been a room full of fatalities.
But then this week something happened… a breakthrough of revolutionary proportions. Walls came down, connections were made, and the class that once had the awkwardness of Kanye West with a microphone now feels like one big happy family.
How in the world? Two words:
Taylor Swift.
Yep, we were on break, and even though it's against our school policy, I let one of the students listen to her iPod for one song. That song happened to be "You Belong with Me," and within seconds after she belted out the first few lines, the entire class was singing that song at the top of their lungs - and things have never been the same.
Why am I telling you this? Because I have a theory about that song. Not only can it unite warring female factions, but I think it connects and resonates with anyone who has experienced relational pain in watching someone you love suffer because they are seemingly stuck with a jerk. Inside, you know you'd be a lot better for that person - if only they could see how you really feel. Like Taylor said:
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me
You belong with me
I have another theory that ties in with my first one…and maybe you'll agree. In many ways, God was the first one to ever feel the relational pain of seeing people He loves stuck in a dysfunctional relationship. Remember, He created us to be in a relationship with Him, and in fact, that's the only true way to find the meaning, purpose and value we all truly seek after.
Instead of looking to God for those things, though, we put that expectation on other people or things. We look to friends or status or achievements to feel important or accepted, but believe me, that's like being in a relationship with someone who doesn't get you.
I'm not the only one who realizes this…check out what Shia LeBeouf recently pointed out:
"I don't handle fame well. Most actors on most days don't think they're worthy. I have no idea where this insecurity comes from, but it's a God-sized hole. If I knew, I'd fill it, and I'd be on my way."
- Shia LeBeouf, Parade, June 14, 2009
See what I mean? That's why 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ made this astounding offer:
"A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of" (John 10:10, The Message).
The "thief" Jesus is talking about is anyone or anything who is robbing you of the life God designed for you, which is a "more and better life" than you could ever dream of.
In other words, you belong to Him. The "God-sized hole" that Shia mentioned is just that - thus it can only be filled by…God! The message He sent of wanting to be with us isn't on a piece of paper or in a song. He actually came in person and lived the life we should have lived, then died the death we should have died so we could spend eternity with Him in heaven.
So if you're feeling like the blond Taylor Swift neighbor football dude who's unhappy with his evil girlfriend, remember that God is in heaven right now holding up a sign that says "I love you." If you haven't trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, make that decision right now so you can fill the God sized hole and start living the "more and better" life. If you trusted in Christ in the past but now feel a little distant, remember that reconnecting is only a simple prayer away.
Aren't you glad that we belong to Him?
Flashpoint: Ignite Into Action
This truth is a great reminder that we all have a "God-sized" hole inside that can only be filled when we belong to Jesus Christ. This week, talk to your friends about this idea and how it is impossible to find real and lasting meaning, purpose, and value in life apart from being in a right relationship with God through trusting Jesus Christ.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water" (John 4:13-15).
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).
