“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” – Romans 14:7-9
Scripture reading: Psalm 100:1-5
I am not my own. How beautiful and immensely comforting. Where would we be if we were left on our own and to our own devices? Why, we would be on the road to hell. Who of us could navigate the journey from this world to the next?
I am not my own, but I belong. Personally, I belong to Jesus. Believers are Christ’s possession. He owns us. He purchased us with His own precious blood. He gave His life to the death, so that in our death we might be brought to the life of eternal life. We are upheld by His person, His power and His presence. Christ’s cross is the place of our cleansing, and in His church we confess together as the body of Christ our redemption.
The world is filled with many who try to go it alone. The Christian realizes it cannot be done. The world will speak of the self-made man who can pick himself up by his own bootstraps. The Christian recognizes that life is short, death is sure, sin be the cause–but Christ be the cure.
When we look through the prism of God’s comforting grace we are strengthened. Strengthened to understand that we are never alone simply because He has not left us alone. We are strengthened, producing fortitude and resilience as we seek to live out our calling as Christ’s disciples. We are not our own but belong!
No true Christian is his own man – John Calvin
Suggestions for prayer
Confess before the LORD: “Know that the LORD is God indeed; He formed us all without our aid. We are the flock He surely feeds, the sheep who by His hand were made” (TPH 100B:2).
Rev. Vellenga is presently serving as a ‘here and there’ preacher who preaches across several Reformed denominational/federational lines. Peter and his wife Judith reside in Delaware, Ontario and are blessed with eight children and a growing quiver of grandchildren. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.
