SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me.— Acts 27:23
Paul spoke of “the God to whom I belong.” In Song of Solomon we read, “My beloved is mine, and I am His” (2:16). As a Christian, you belong to the Lord. You are His.
There are a number of analogies the Lord uses to show how we belong to God. For instance, we are called “the bride of Christ.”
My bride is Cathe. I call her my wife, and she calls me her husband. She belongs to me, and I belong to her. That is just the way it works. We belong to each other.
The Bible also compares us to sheep that belong to a shepherd. In John chapter 10, Jesus affirmed that He is the Good Shepherd and that we are His sheep. Sometimes we romanticize these wooly little animals, sheep. They look so charming out there in the green grass, under the watchful eye of the shepherd. But we should also bear in mind that they are some of the stupidest animals on the face of the earth. It should not inflate you with pride to hear that you are compared to dumb, defenseless sheep.
We are also compared to children belonging to a father. Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ ” Abba was an affectionate cry of a Hebrew child. Even if you go to Israel today, you will hear little children crying out, “Abba” to their fathers. We might say, “Daddy” or “Papa.” It’s a close, affectionate, endearing term. And we have that kind of access and closeness with our Father God.
I belong to God. I’ve been bought and paid for, and I am His.
I heard the story of an older gentleman who was known for his godly life. Someone once asked him, “Old man, what do you do when you get tempted?”
He smiled and replied, “Well, I just look up to heaven and say, ‘Lord, your property is in danger.’ ”
You are God’s bride. You are His sheep. You are His child. You are His property. And like Paul, you, too, can say, “I belong to God.”
Radio Program: “What Heaven Knows about Earth — III”
TV Program: “Home Before Dark, Part 1”
Bible Readings: Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11
2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40-41;Revelation 12
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Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514.
