It’s Friday…We Are Owned By Another

Life is a series of decisions. Some are relatively minor; others have lasting impact. We often act on the minor decisions – what to eat, what to wear, who to talk to – from our default behavior patterns, giving them little thought. With the serious choices – which job to take, where to live, who to marry, when to start a family, and the like – we weigh pros and cons and try to determine the right course of action. In any case, we are likely to forget an important backdrop to our decision-making: That as followers of Jesus Christ, we are not our own. We belong to God.

Isn’t this easy to forget? We tend to approach life with a certain autonomy, as though we are independent individuals with a responsibility to acknowledge God in worship and sacrifice. But God wants a deeper worship in our lives rather than living independently of Him while giving Him our respect. He wants us to live dependently on Him with awareness that every action, every thought, every impulse, is to fit into His purposes. He knows we are at our best when no action – or even breath happens – without this awareness. We belong to Him.

“You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Some might consider this the equivalent of slavery or servitude. The Apostle Paul always proudly did (Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:10, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1), regardless of whether he was free or in prison. Belonging to God is a joyful service that carries with it no sense of oppression. How could it?

Our Master is the epitome of benevolence. He knows our innermost being and is zealously intent on fulfilling us. The key for us is living with the knowledge that we are owned and operated by the most loving and qualified Owner possible.

True followers of Christ who live with this wisdom know We Are Owned By Another and we are profoundly changed. Our decisions are affected, our character is changed, and our burdens are made lighter. Yes, we lose the right to ourselves; but we also lose the enormous weight of self-rule. This is a wonderfully freeing truth – everything about us is the concern of Someone else.

Have a liberating weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who love serving under His rule and enjoy the benefits that such freedom brings.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)