I Belong to Him

Paul speaks to the saints in Ephesus, and the faithful in Jesus Christ in the book of Ephesians Chapter 1 about their redemption in Christ. Think on what this is saying to us today, also. How powerful these words are as I read them that He chose me from the very beginning and I did not choose Him. He has my life already mapped out and within His hand. He knows His very own from the before the world was formed. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on the earth-in Him. In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose if Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with Holy Spirit of promise , who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when he raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

When we are having troubled times and things are out of control in our lives then we can be assured that someone up there cares about your every little detail when no one else does. It may be you are lonely, hurting, discouraged, troubled, trials, and temptations. Do not think that God does not hear you when you pray? Absolutely He does, and He will always be there for your every need. The heavenly Father will not turn any one away that comes to Him for much needed answers. I have found this true in my very own life.

God knew me before the world was formed. He knew that I was going to be his child. He chose me before the world was formed to be a part of His inheritance. I did not choose Him, but by His spirit He had already chosen me. He loved me and I know He does not want any one to perish but He knew when He created me before the world was formed that I was His. How do I or you know this? Know man can come to the Father unless His spirit draws you to Him for He has chosen you from the beginning and who were His own.

What kind of spirit does not draw one to repentance? I know that spirit is not of Him and it is of the devil, he wants you to be lost forever and belong to him. Pray that Gods spirit draws you to Him for eternal life in Christ.

Through a song, a sermon, a testimony of someone, a simple quiet time drawn aside by the savior wherever you were at the time when He spoke to your heart, may be the time He drew you to Him. You will remember that drawing if you think back. It is a wonderful thing to be drawn to and by the Lord letting you know He has chosen you from of old. You know that you need Him to make you complete, for you are only an alien here, or a stranger, or just a pilgrim passing through on your final journey with Him. Does He not lead us by the still waters and the valleys of our life? Does not goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives? Be steadfast in Him at all times. There is nothing more satisfying to the soul as you yielded completely to His engulfing love for His child.

I know that He sanctified me in the womb as He brought me forth. He knew me before I was even born. He knit me 52 years ago within my mothers womb for such a time as this to tell of His love to others. If you have been called out by the Holy Spirit in such a way that you have no doubts that you have been sanctified and cleansed by His blood than you should realize what a gift has been given to you. You have been given His name as a daughter or son of the King most high. You will inherit things that He has given to His son. You are a joint heir with Him.

If all of these things that He tells us such as to seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you were not true, than all blessings would maybe end when we accepted Christ for our salvation. It is the first thing we are to do in seeking Him first and then all these other things will be added unto us. The kingdom of God than becomes within me as He lives there for all eternity. The rest He heaps upon us with daily benefits as He sees fit to do for His children.

I sought to obey my earthly father and he too, heaped the benefits upon me for seeking his advice and wisdom and obeying his word. How much more will my heavenly Father do for me as I seek His advice, wisdom, and obey His Holy Word. It is His good pleasure to give us the desires of our hearts because He loves us.

This is so important if we can comprehend for a moment, as His child from the beginning He chose to do all for us. Even die for you and me. I am in awe as the eyes of my understanding are opened by the Lord. He even wanted me to have no sin in my life and be pure and holy. He came to earth and died for me to cover the sins in my life. I believe He would have done this if there would have been only one He had to do it for. Shedding His blood He sanctified me so that I could go home to live with Him eternally. Acts 10:44 speaks the truth of them hearing the word and were selected as they believed.{ the word of God drew them and then they believed}We do not choose for ourselves to be saved. By faith we believe when He draws us to Him by His word and spirit. 1 Thess. He sanctifies us and we belong to Him when saved and we are being sanctified day to day.

What are we doing for such a kind Father? He told us to go and spread the gospel to all nations. We are an extension for Him. Do we realize the authority we have as His child? Are we holy as He told us to be, because He is Holy? How do we represent Him? Is He ashamed of us or where we take Him or shun Him and not share Him with others? I have many things I could say as I question my own self as I take Him with me every where I go.

I know that He has revealed to me that I will suffer because He suffered here on the earth. I am only following in His footsteps. When trouble comes and tragedies He was always with me and promised He would never leave me nor forsake me. If you are His child you never need to feel lonely or forsaken at any time in your life. Depend on His wonderful love for every situation. I only thought He had forsaken me until I realized my hurts were His concerns and His love was extended the most in the darkest hours. If any one wants deeper answers during these dark times go to the word for a deeper answer from God. The world can not answer all our whys when we live under the pressure of troubled times for a long time, but God can in His word as we search for the whys. If you do not believe the truth than you are condemned. If you do believe the word of God you are saved.

Paul as an example in 11 Thessalonians he begins with giving thanks for those put through great difficulties and how they had grown. We are to be encouraged and do likewise to others. We are to be established in the word. We are to be ethical in our works and no false hood. We are not to just sit and wait until the Lord comes back. We are to work until Jesus comes.

The word will put strength into you as you will see during your troubled times. He is doing something special, as he refines. I can be reassured that my future will be secure because I was chosen in the beginning by God. I am to live with eternities values in view. I am to stand fast and not be worried or frightened by anything.

Think about this truth from God. You have always been with Him from the beginning of time, and what a privilege to have God choose me and you. I would be devastated if I thought that God had not chosen me. How precious to be called out. I am so glad God, that I belong to you.

Written by: Karen{Barnett} Armstrong June 13, 2002