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Owned...

It may just be my own way of thinking about things, but it seems to me that there are a lot of people headed for a devastating disappointment. So much emphasis is placed on being in control of one's own life, seeking to be different, claiming authority and expressing individual identity in increasingly startling ways. The drive to gain superiority, to posses, to attain, to achieve all have their world valued reward. But at the end of life, what counts and what is it worth? What's it even worth now?

Like I said, it may just be my own radical thought pattern and I may be swimming upstream against a worldly value system, but I personally don't want to be in control. I don't want to be the ultimate authority over my own life and I choose to desire to avoid the seemingly common drive to be recognized as being a lone maverick. I've discovered many times over that I'm a train wreck waiting to happen under my own control and authority and that being different in a worldly definition is a hollow pursuit with no real reward or gain. I'm sure it would be to the dumbfounded amazement of some worldly minds to find that I don't want to be individual and I don't strive for independence - instead I find complete solace, total comfort and perfect fulfillment... in being owned.

I belong to Christ Jesus.

Worldly minds might consider me weak, but I'm quite certain that swimming against the current is far more difficult than going with the decaying flow - and far more rewarding. While the world might seek to gorge itself on meaningless things that have no lasting nutritional value to their divinely created spirits, I find meat and satisfaction not just in the future of eternity - but here and now as I live. So while worldly minds might seek to portray me as a fool, I'd humbly submit with hope for their own benefit that they pause for a moment to check the substance of their own reflection and its end value. My satisfaction and security is in my sold out identity - no longer found in myself, but in the person of Christ - the Divine Eternal Creator, Redeemer, Protector, Provider and Perfect Lover of my eternal soul. Consider it as the only satisfaction and hope to resolve the nagging drive you were created with, because it is.

For those young in Christ's grace and swimming with me against a worldly tide, I'd like to offer a reminder and encouragement from THE ONE source that makes us complete and satisfies completely...

"Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you." 

"So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 1 Peter 1:21-25 (NLT), 1 Peter 2:1-10 (NLT)

Swim well, be strong and seek the comfort and companionship of those who swim with us - but most of all... stay securely in the arms of Christ Jesus who carries us continually.


"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)

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