To Whom Do You Belong?
By Christy Young
Mitchell County
We all struggle daily to have a sense of belonging. Lately, my struggle has been knowing that my two boys have peace, contentment, and self-worth. As a mother, you hope that your children are safe, secure, and accepted. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
As the coming of the Lord draws near, the world continues to become more evil and defiant of the Bible’s teachings. The world is turning against those of great faith and testing us. COVID has completely changed the world we live in. But I am so very thankful that I do not belong to this world. I Belong to God! My husband, my boys belong to God!
But what does it really mean to belong to God? Romans 14:7-8 says, “For none of us lives for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” To live for the Lord??? We as humans are selfish creatures. We are often fueled by our selfish ambitions and pride. Our feelings often consist of guilt, fear, pride, and resentment.
Living in our flesh causes us to exhibit these traits rather than those that are Christ-like. Paul teaches us in the Bible that we must die daily to our flesh (1 Corinthians 15:31: “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily”). Belonging to God means that we must adhere to His agenda. When I follow His agenda, I am fulfilled. It gives me purpose, encouragement, and assurance. Submitting to God with obedience changes our plans, desires, and thoughts. I realize that the only good that dwells within me is Christ Jesus. I must remind myself daily that I belong to Him and He has great plans for me.
My prayer is that He will direct my path and convict me of my wrongdoing. Not only do I pray these things for me, but also for my children. I’m so very thankful that both my boys have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. My greatest hope is that they will be obedient in following God’s will in their lives. Being a light unto this world and being bold in their faith. Living a life that is pleasing to God comes at a cost. We are not always going to be accepted or liked.
But at the end of the day, if we have conducted ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to God, then we have succeeded! I know that we are in a battle, but as believers, we have already won. The Victory Is His (Christ Jesus). Ask yourself To Whom Do I Belong? Do your actions demonstrate a relationship with God? If not, He is waiting for you to submit. He loves you, forgives you, and wants a relationship with you. I often remind myself that I belong to the King of Kings and that’s the only acceptance I need.
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Christy Young is the blessed wife of Chris Young and the proud mother of Hunter and Holden. She is a life-long resident of Mitchell County, works at Mitchell County Finance Office, and is a member of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
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