Have you ever felt lost in the darkness, unsure of where to turn or who to trust? Imagine stepping into a pitch-black room and feeling a small hand grab yours. A little voice says, “I’m yours till the lights come on.” It’s a powerful image, isn’t it? It makes you think about who you belong to and who you trust when life gets dark.
Who Do You Belong To?
The Bible tells us we have a choice: we can either belong to God or to the other guy. The choice is ultimately ours. Throughout our series in Romans, we’ve been exploring the truth that Jesus changes everything. We’ve seen that our separation from God is due to our own sin, and because of that darkness, we needed someone to save us. That someone is Jesus.
When you choose to follow Jesus, you are renewed, redeemed, and ultimately saved. But this redemption comes with a price. It requires a decision to change your relationship from the other guy to our hero, our Savior, Jesus Christ. So, the big question is, “Who do you belong to?”
God Chose You First
The Bible is clear: you didn’t choose God first; He chose you. 1 John 4:19 tells us, “We love him because he first loved us.” This is especially true when we talk about our relationship with Christ. We have been adopted into His family. God adopted you; you didn’t adopt Him.
In ancient Rome, adoption was a significant event. The family chose the child they wanted to adopt, and a special ceremony called the “vindicatio” took place. This ceremony cleared the adopted child of any previous debts and obligations, making them a new person in the eyes of the law. Similarly, when God adopts us, He clears us of our guilt and shame, forgives our sins, and justifies us as if we had never sinned. We are vindicated by God, who chose us to be His children.
Bought at a Price
Adoption comes with a price. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “You were bought at a price.” And what a price it was! 1 Peter 1:18-19 tells us that we were ransomed not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. If God has purchased you with the precious blood of Jesus, then you should belong to Him.
Changed from the Inside Out
Romans 8:10-11 tells us that once we are adopted, God’s Spirit lives within us. This means that God is always with us, providing us with His strength and power to deal with life’s difficulties. 1 John 4:4 reminds us, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Our strength is found in God alone.
We Become Heirs
When God adopts us, we become heirs to His blessings. Romans 8:16-18 tells us that we are children of God and co-heirs with Christ. This means we inherit all the blessings of God, both on earth and in heaven. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, we have access to all kinds of blessings from God.
Do Not Be Afraid
Romans 8:15 tells us that we do not have to be afraid because we can call God our Father. Just like the little boy in the dark room, we can hold onto God’s hand and find comfort and security. The most common command in Scripture is “Do not be afraid,” found 365 times in the Bible—one for every day of the year. With God’s Spirit inside us, we can push back against fear and trust that He is always with us.
Take the Next Step
So, who do you belong to? God loved you first and gave His only Son to die for you so that you could belong to Him. This is the most important question you’ll ever answer. To follow Jesus, you need to:
- Repent of your faults: Understand the real problem and say you’re sorry.
- Confess Jesus as Lord and Savior: Acknowledge that you need a rescuer.
- Be baptized: For forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Change your relationship status: From lost to found, from darkness to light.
What about you? Will you choose to belong to God and experience the blessings of being His child?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing us and adopting us into Your family. Help us to remember that we belong to You and that Your Spirit lives within us. Give us the strength to face our fears and trust in Your promises. Guide us as we take the next steps in our journey with You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
