Musings of the Day #3

Who owns what? Who owns who? Interesting how we Christians are so into ownership. We want to know who owns something. We want to know who is in charge. And then we set up our own ownership by applying rules to those who are in charge. If what they do doesn't match up with what we expect, we begin to question their actions. Why? Because we are into ownership. And who better to know what should or should not be done than us? And so our thinking goes.

But real ownership belongs to God. He is the owner of the world because He created the world. Now Satan would like to usurp that position. So when we begin to question what God is doing with His world and His people, either individually or corporately, guess what? We have just given ownership to Satan. We are not called to question God or His people. We are called to trust God and His people. Just a minute, you say. What if a Christian doesn't do what is right? Well be sure first of all that you know, not think, that something is wrong. Be sure you don't assume something is wrong because you do not understand what is going on. Secondly, a gentle talk with the one whom you suspect is wrong would be good IF you are a part of the solution. Suspect is probably the operative word here. When we suspect someone we take ownership of knowing better, having the answers. being right in our own eyes.

So how to we get out of the morass of "ownership"? By realizing that we own nothing. We have been entrusted by God with ministries, family, friends, home, children, but they are NOT ours, they are His.

But the really bottom line? You and I are OWNED by God. Interesting how we love to sing, "I surrender all", or "I give myself to you" as though we had something to do with it. God's Spirit brings us to the place where we can rejoice that He owns us. I've yet to hear someone say, "Praise God, He owns me." We would much rather say, "Praise God. I gave myself to Jesus," or "I accepted Jesus for my own." It's wonderful that His grace surrounds us so that He accepts what we say. But as for me - today I will rejoice that He OWNS me. I was bought by His holy and precious blood upon that cross where He willingly and gladly went to take my sin. I was bought by a priceless gift - the love of Jesus.

John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His only son, Jesus."