I Belong to the Lord

In Romans 14 Paul writes, “Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8). Long before Paul, God gave the prophet Isaiah a picture of people who gladly said they belonged to Him.

God speaks to His people. “Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen” (Isaiah 44:1). Jacob and Israel are two names for God’s people.

Made by God. God calls Himself “the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you” (44:2). Formed from the womb means God made you even before you were born. The One who made you knows you and promises to help you.

Fear not. God says, “Fear not, O Jacob My servant” (44:2). People who belong to God do not have to live afraid.

A special name. God also calls His people Jeshurun (44:2). It is a loving name that means upright one.

Water on dry ground. “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground” (44:3). Thirsty land cannot water itself. God gives what we cannot make.

The Spirit poured out. God also promised, “I will pour My Spirit on your descendants” (44:3). Descendants are children and grandchildren.

Growing strong. “They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses” (44:4). A willow by a stream grows tall and green.

Thirsty people. Being thirsty is a picture of needing God. People who know they need Him are the ones He fills.

A family name. “Another will call himself by the name of Jacob” (44:5). Taking a family name shows which family you belong to.

One family. When you trust Jesus, you are part of God’s family. Other believers carry the same family name, even when their homes and habits look different from yours.

I am the Lord’s. “One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’” (44:5). In Isaiah’s picture, people say out loud that they belong to God.

Signed with his hand. “Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s’” (44:5). It is like signing your name to show whose you are.

Glad to belong. Nobody forced these people. They were glad to be called by God’s name.

Our sin. Sin made us run from God instead of belonging to Him. We could not make ourselves His.

How we become His. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Everyone who trusts Him belongs to the Lord.

What to do. Tell God today, “I am the Lord’s.” Then live this week as someone who belongs to Him.

Paul says that God has received every believer: “for God has received him” (Romans 14:3). Long before, Moses told Israel why God had chosen them.

A holy people. “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 7:6). Holy means set apart for God.

Chosen by God. “The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself” (7:6). God picked Israel to be His own.

A special treasure. God called them “a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (7:6). A treasure is something precious that you keep close.

Treasure kept close. People keep treasure in a safe place. God keeps His people close to His heart.

Not because they were big. “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people” (7:7).

The least. Moses even said, “for you were the least of all peoples” (7:7). Israel was small, not great.

The real reason. “But because the Lord loves you” (7:8). God loved them because He chose to love them.

A promise kept. God also acted “because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers” (7:8). An oath is a serious promise.

Set free. God “redeemed you from the house of bondage” (7:8). Redeemed means bought back. The house of bondage was their slavery in Egypt.

Not a prize for being good. God did not pick Israel as a reward. He chose them first, and then He taught them how to live as His people.

For you too. If you trust Jesus, you are not loved because you are the biggest or the best. You are loved because God set His love on you.

Not by being best. God does not choose people because they are the smartest, the strongest or the most popular.

Why this matters for welcoming. If God loved us when we were small and needy, we should never look down on someone who seems small or different.

Our sin. We were far from God because of our sin, like slaves who could not free themselves.

Bought back. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is bought back and becomes God’s treasure.

What to do. When you feel small or left out, remember that God’s love does not depend on how big you are. Then share that kind of love with others.