Romans 14:8–No Matter What: We Belong to Him!

Romans 14:8: "For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord.  So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's."

I find this verse incredibly profound as it remains wholly comforting.  It must be stated upfront, though, that while this is a true statement it is a statement solely for those of us who belong Christ.  Part of the nature of God's relationship with mankind is that He has given human beings a choice.  There are two possibilities: either we will belong to Christ in faith and obedience or we will claim ownership of ourselves.  Now while the latter possibility may seem like a positive thing, it is merely a facade, a dire and eternal facade.

The reality, however, is that the same God who created the vastness of the universe by the power of His Word also created every person by that same modem.  It is then inescapable that we belong, ultimately, to God.  When we refuse to accept that truth and we live our lives in foolhardy reprobation and utter disregard for who we are in Christ, then it is no wonder that God is just to 'leave us to our own devices.'  In a sense, it would be unjust of Him to bring us into His presence kicking and screaming!

Therefore, it is a great and lovely joy to be reckoned as a child of God and to be counted as His.  Let us take joy in this reality: that by the blood of the lamb, who is Christ Jesus, we have been permitted to enter into the holy Kingdom of God.

Amen!

Loving the Creation or the Creator

A lot can be discerned about the state of a person's heart by what they worship and what they put their energy in.  Scripture says that their are two possibilities for humans to worship.  Quite bluntly, we either worship creation or the Creator.  Needless to say, the latter is always to be preferred; however, overcoming the former is a difficult but necessary part of accomplishing in accomplishing the task of putting the Creator first.

Faith deals with jus this thing.  When we come to God in faith, we are consciously changing our focus of worship.  Our previous, fleshly focus is transformed and sanctified by the blood of Christ Jesus and transfixed on the Holy Lord Almighty.

For this reason, a great potentially convicting daily practice for us to engage in is a "worship check".  A simple moment of self-assessment and awareness is a great way for us to see where our hearts are at and in what way we may need to refocus.

Sin, in its most literal sense, is about missing the mark.  The etymology of sin comes from archery.  To sin is to aim and hit something other than what we should.  So, when we focus on that which is not God and less-than God, we are in fact sinning.  This is a harsh but true reality.  And the road of destruction is a moving sidewalk that leads us astray a single step at a time.  Let us then take care to keep ourselves worshiping God and not His creation!