Not Our Own
(Back to Vignettes: Table of Contents)
(Printer Friendly Version)

We Christians are not our own; we are bought with a price--the precious blood of Jesus--and therefore we belong to God.  Yet we still must choose to live as those who belong to God, or we= ll act as if we belong to self.  The Scriptures say Jesus Adied for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf (II Corinthians 5:15 NAS).  To live for God means to love Him with all ones heart, and to seek to know His will in order to do it.

God looks for the person who will live this way.  He says, AFor the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His@ ( II Chronicles 16:9 NAS).  Elsewhere, He promises, ABut I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always@ ( I Samuel 2:35 NAS).  God Adelight(s) in loyalty rather that sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings@ (Hosea 6:6 NAS).

It is the good and faithful servant that hears, AWell done@ (Matthew 25:21).  Yet sin in us always tries to seduce us away to love ourselves, to please ourselves, to serve ourselves.  If we yield to that path, then our hearts grow cold, we go through outward religious motions, but we walk in rebellion, fear, and ineffectiveness.  May God therefore keep all of us alert in the knowledge of His love so that we will consistently, deliberately choose to walk according to the glorious truth of our redemption through the blood of our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.

(Back to Top)