DO YOU BELONG TO JESUS?

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Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com

In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”

Romans 8:9

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In yesterday’s message, we found the word of God showing us that we can only have one of two mindsets. We either have ourselves focused on the flesh, interested in only our desires or the desires of the world, or we are centered on the Lord and on His will and way by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.

The self-centered, worldly mindset takes the person further and further away from the God who made them. It’s an attitude fixated on the creation instead of the Creator.

In this way of thinking, let’s call it fleshly thinking, possessions mean everything. The world has a lot to offer and it would encourage someone to do everything they need to do to gain those offerings. And so people grounded in the flesh dedicate their lives to accumulating more and more things in life. They develop an insatiable appetite for status, defined by their riches and the luxury those riches can buy.

But here’s the thing. This life is finite and no one knows when it will end but there is one thing that is a known fact. No one leaves this life taking anything with them. You can go through your whole life belonging to the world and living for the flesh as you collect more and more and more assets but when you die, you’re just simply leaving what you have to someone else.

Perhaps this is why we find our Savior Jesus sharing these two gems of wisdom on this subject:

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Mark 8:36

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21  

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In other words, you will belong to whatever your heart is centered on.

A heart centered on the flesh will belong to the treasures of the earth. They yearn and yearn and yearn for more and more of what the world gives to the point where their possessions possess them. And in the end, a life committed to the world will only lead to a person gaining the world’s offerings while surrendering the chance for eternal life. Anyone who does not gain the Holy Spirit fails to belong to Jesus and that person is destined for hell, no matter how rich they are. No one can buy their way into heaven.

This is why these words from Romans 8 and our Savior Jesus are so critical. They serve to open the eyes of anyone living in the flesh to the foolishness in that kind of mindset and the danger it brings. For only a person who belongs to Jesus and lives by the leading of His Spirit will find their way to eternal life, to the riches of God’s kingdom that will never perish but sustain forever.

For a person who belongs to Christ, death is not the end but a transition point to glory and an everlasting life free from all the afflictions found in this worldly existence.

Two mindsets, one set in the flesh and the other in Jesus.

Belong to the flesh and eternal damnation and torment will be your end reward when this life is over.

Belong to Christ and you are promised eternal love and peace, living with Him, your Savior, and God, the Father of you both, forever.

So, who do you belong to in your life?

Do you belong to Jesus

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com