Ephesians 2:13

Many of us walk around with a quiet feeling of being on the outside. Maybe it's guilt from our past, or the sense that God feels distant and that other people are closer to Him. But in Christ, that distance is gone for good.

When Jesus gave His blood for you, He did not just forgive your sins—He moved you. You did not inch your way closer to God through effort. You were brought near by His sacrifice, and that is now your true position.

So live today like someone who belongs. Pray boldly instead of tiptoeing. When you mess up, do not hide from God in shame—run to Him the way a child runs to a father who loves them.

And remember: if God brought you near when you were far off, then no one is too far gone for your kindness either. Reach out to the lonely, the overlooked, and the struggling this week, and remind them they have a place too.

Dear Lord, thank You for bringing me close when I was far away. Help me live today from that nearness, not from fear or shame, and to welcome others the way You welcomed me. Amen.