Scripture: “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” – (24:1)
Observation: Here David writes about God as King and Conqueror. He is the One who deserves the glory; He controls all, and only those who are deemed worthy can come into His presence. He writes that everything created belongs to God.
Application: Everything that has ever been or will be was created by God, and as such, belongs to Him. It’s easy to say that the mountains are His; the stars are His, the animals are His, but it isn’t as easy to say that we belong to Him. That requires submission, and that is often difficult to do. However, as Creator, the creation belongs to Him as well, and as part of His creation, that includes us!
The Bible clearly states that we are God’s.
- Psalm 100:3 – “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
- Isaiah 43:1 – “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”
- Romans 14:3 – “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19 – “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
God is our maker, but He doesn’t force a relationship with Him upon us. He gives us free will to choose Him. Even before we do so, He loves us. Even when we choose sin over godliness, He loves us. Even when we fail to please Him, He loves us. The prophet Jeremiah validated God’s love for us when he wrote, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Why wouldn’t we choose God? He loved us before we loved Him (1 John 4:19). He sacrificed Himself to have an everlasting relationship with us (Romans 5:8). He promises all things good to us (James 1:17). As Joshua said in the book that bears his name (24:15), “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
It is a good thing to belong to God and to be loved by Him. As for me, I choose Jesus!
Prayer: Dearest Heavenly Father, thank You so much for loving me, dying for me, living for me, and giving me the promise of eternal life with You! I am truly blessed. I know I am unworthy in and of myself, but through Jesus and His finished work on the cross, I have been saved and adopted into Your family! Thank You so much! There has never been a day, O God, when I have regretted making You my choice! Your goodness to me is overwhelming; Your love for me is unimaginable. I am so grateful for You. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
Jesus my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow'r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul, now I belong to Him
Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me
Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity
Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me,
Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me
His precious blood He gave to redeem, now I belong to Him
Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me
Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity
(from “Now I Belong to Jesus” by Norman J. Clayton)
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“My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.” – Song of Solomon 2:16