20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV)
Introduction
God’s ownership of his saints is one of the most awe-inspiring truths of Christianity, and I’ve found it especially helpful to continually remind myself every day that I belong to God.
If you have believed on Jesus Christ by faith, repented of your sins, and confessed him as Lord of your life then both your body and spirit belong to God. (Rom 10:9-10, Gal. 3:26, Gal. 4:6-7, 1 Cor. 3:23, 1 Pet. 2:9)
In fact, the Bible teaches that, “now are we the sons of God.” (1 Jn. 3:2)“God’s ownership of his saints is one of the most awe-inspiring truths of Christianity.”
Believers do not have to wait for heaven to be God’s. They are already his here and now in this life.
What is it specifically though that makes God’s possession of us such a powerful part of our Christian life?
In today’s devotional, we’re going to briefly look at what it means for believers to know that they belong to God. Lets jump in!
First, belonging to God brings us confidence during seasons of doubt.
When sin, life or the enemy flood our thoughts with lies about our holy standing with God we need only to rest on what God has told us and done for us in salvation.
God the Father has given us to Jesus and we are held forever tightly in both of their hands and sealed by the Holy Spirit. (Jn. 10:28-29, Eph. 1:13)
You are his and he won’t ever let you go! The confidence that overflows from this ought to compel us forward on our pilgrimage through this life and into eternity.
There is nothing you or anyone can do to change that. (Rom. 8:35) Your standing with God, your salvation and his love and possession of you are guaranteed.
Remember, in times of spiritual uncertainty God gently says, “You are mine.” (Ps. 100:3)
Second, belonging to God comforts us in times of apparent loneliness.
When we feel forsaken by the world, friends or loved ones, God says “You are mine, I’m here and I love you.”
Notice also, that the converse is also true. If we are God’s, then God is ours.
He is the eternal friend who never deserts, always listens and who we continue to know more and more about for all time.
There is no end to the depth of the Christian’s relationship with his God.
There is no where we can go where God isn’t. Moreover, God not only goes with us wherever we go, he goes before us! (Deut. 31:8)
“There is no end to the depth of the Christian’s relationship with his God.”God is always present in our lives because we belong to him. Just like a father he wants to always know what we are feeling, what we are up against and where we are.
This is our comfort in times of loneliness, isolation and solitude.
Such truth continually refreshes us and makes us ready to serve God.
Third, belonging to God makes us thankful, even when everything in life seems to be against us.
Why does our belonging to God make us thankful? Because of God’s love for us. This in fact is the reason why he keeps us as his. (Jn. 3:16)
This is also why Paul for example could glory in his infirmities and revel in the fact that nothing could separate him from God. (2 Cor. 11:30, Rom. 8:39)“The love that God bestows on us is greater than all else; it is a love that is more profound than any human conception of love, its a pure, everlasting and steadfast love.”
As Christians we know that we do not deserve to belong to God.
However, the love that God bestows on us is greater than all else; it is a love that is more profound than any human conception of love, its a pure, everlasting and steadfast love. (1 Jn. 4:10,1 Jn. 3:1, Jer. 31:3, Ps. 103:17)
If that doesn’t make you thankful then nothing else can or will.
It is the gratitude we have then for belonging to God which strengths our Christian witness, and that helps us press on in life in service to God.
Conclusion
In today’s devotional we briefly looked at what it means for believers to know that they belong to God.
We learned that knowing that we are God’s and that he is ours compels us with confidence, uplifts us with comfort and strengthens us with gratitude.
Therefore, when people ask you why Jesus means so much to you, tell them that you belong to the God of universe, and that they can too!
Soli Deo gloria!
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Image Credit
Saints and Worshippers in Adoration. Unknown artist. French, 1510-15. Glass, vitreous paint, silver stain, and lead. The Art Institute of Chicago. Gift of the Antiquarian Society. 1930.947.