‘I belong to the Lord.’

I am ‘the Lord’s.’

You call yourself a Christian, or a follower of Jesus, or a friend of Jesus…

You’ve accepted the free gift of salvation that comes with confessing, “Jesus is Lord,” but… how is that confession shaping your life today?

How is it shaping your priorities? Your commitments?

How is that confession bring shape to your understanding of self? Of life altogether?

Do you know what I mean?

Do you get what I’m getting at???

God’s invitation is not (solely) an invitation to a life-after-death kind of experience, but to a life-with-God kind of life (as well) right now!

Proclaiming ‘Jesus is Lord’ is a way of letting the rest of the world know that you are giving your life to the Lord. You are putting your life in the hands of God — and giving God permission to direct your path — each and every day.

Yes, each and every day.

Consider these words from Isaiah 44:

“But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
    Israel, whom I have chosen.
² This is what the Lord says—
    he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
    and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
    Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
³ For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.
⁴ They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
    like poplar trees by flowing streams.
⁵ Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
    and will take the name Israel.

These words from the prophet Isaiah come amidst a collection of prophesies primarily focusing on the impending doom and destruction of God’s chosen people — precisely because they had taken for granted God’s favor, graciousness, and blessings, while forgetting that their relationship with God cost them something.

God freely gave his protection and provision to the Israelites, but expected Israel to uphold their commitments to Him — to love and honor Him above all else.

Life as a Christian — as a follower of Jesus — requires that we daily live out of the knowledge that we belong to God.

We are His.

We are counted among His Chosen One’s.

But this means that we ought to live in light of this fact. Out of a sense of responsibility — and not entitlement — to the God who has chosen us.

This means everything — because it is meant to shape everything.

Our commitments.

Our priorities.

Our relationships.

How we spend our time.

How we spend our money.

How we use our gifts.

What we give our attention to.

Everything.

SO… What is your life reflecting today? How is your commitment to Christ shaping the different facets of your life? Is there some area of your life that you need to yield to the Lord today?

Life is a journey with God, full of ups and downs, highs and lows, and it requires our active and intentional yielding to the ways of Jesus — each and every day.

But the choice — as always — is yours.