When I belong to God, how should I respond? - Belonging - TouchPoints

Psalm 34:9Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.

It is an awe-inspiring privilege to belong to God. The Bible uses the word “fear” to describe what our response should be. When we belong to God by faith, we should honor him and worship him for his love for us and acceptance of us. Until we begin responding to God in this way, we should not think of ourselves as godly, nor should we assume God will meet all our needs.

John 8:47Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.

Jesus confronted people who claimed to have God’s Word but in practice ignored or distorted it. They had a high view of Scripture, but they were unwilling to do what it required. If we claim to belong to God but find no joy in hearing from him or carrying out his instructions, our relationship with God can be reasonably questioned.

1 Peter 2:9-10You 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.”

People who belong to God demonstrate that fact by living out a new identity and a new role in the world. The mercy God has given generates a humble willingness to convey to others God’s mercy, not only by being merciful but also by pointing people to God’s mercy. The role of royal priests in God’s Kingdom is to call others from darkness into God’s light.

2 Timothy 2:19God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

There are no illegal or undocumented immigrants in God’s Kingdom—and there are no natural-born citizens, either. We are all immigrants who have been granted citizenship by God’s grace. That new status leads to a life that increasingly leaves evil and the world’s ways behind. In what specific ways has belonging to God affected your lifestyle?