“When we declare our belongings belong to Jesus—we fear no loss or limitations. Joy rests securely in Jesus.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 1, 2023
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. John 3:29
John the Baptist describes Jesus as the bridegroom and those who love and follow Jesus as the bride of Christ. John goes on to explain his role as the friend of the bridegroom who has been listening for His voice…and now John bubbles with joy since he hears the voice of Jesus Christ, the bridegroom he has been anticipating. In a similar fashion, a joyful friend of Jesus is all who present Him as the bridegroom with whom all can enter into an intimate relationship as His bride. Jesus brings joy to all who listen to Him…to all loved by Him.
Christian conversion begins by belonging to God, and then your heart’s desire becomes one that seeks out belonging to a church. Be wise not to reverse the order; otherwise, you may easily substitute your devotion to your Savior Jesus with activities at the church. When belonging to God is followed by belonging to His people, rich fellowship can follow your faith relationship. People will let you down, so beware of placing your church on a pedestal of perfection, where only Christ qualifies for those lofty expectations. God paid dearly for you…you belong to Him.
“Haven’t you yet learned that your body is the home of the Holy Spirit God gave you and that he lives within you? Your own body does not belong to you. For God has bought you at a great price. So, use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
A wife has authority over her husband’s body, and a husband has authority over his wife’s body. In like manner, in your divine marriage with Jesus Christ, your body belongs to Him and His to you. Your body belongs to the Lord to be a living sacrifice of love and obedience, while the body of Christ is the sacrifice of sin on the cross for you to embrace your forgiveness and identity in Christ. Similar to a healthy marriage of a husband and wife who over time become like each other, so you become more like Jesus…His lovely bride. You belong to Jesus to be like Jesus.
You also belong to Jesus to be secure in Jesus. Security comes to those secure in their Savior Jesus. Because we are owned by God, no other prospectors can claim Christ’s claim on us. Our heavenly Father has the deed to our soul, and no one and nothing has the authority to take us away from Him. Our soul’s title insurance is trust in Jesus. The more we rest in God’s ownership of our life—the more we are filled with inexpressible joy. Our head knows we are His, but until our heart engages in an emotional uplift, we remain anxious and insecure. Faith is a fortress for our joy’s protection from anxious warriors. When we declare our belongings belong to Jesus—we fear no loss or limitations. Joy rests securely in Jesus. We become like Jesus when we celebrate that we belong to Jesus!
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, because I belong to You—I want to become like You, through Christ’s love, and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Like John the Baptist, how can you grow as a friend of Jesus, so you can introduce others to your best friend, Jesus?
Related Reading
Romans 8:9, 12:5; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 2 Corinthians 10:7; Galatians 5:24
Worship Resource
Paul & Hannah McClure: I Belong to Jesus
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