I Am the Lord's

From: Christian Treasury: Volume 2

From: Echoes of Grace: 1939

From: Young Christian: Volume 24, 1934

• 2 min. read • grade level: 8

What comfort may be found in these words! The Lord Jesus has redeemed us with His own precious blood (1 Peter 1:18¹⁸Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1 Peter 1:18)), and having set such a value upon us, and bought us for Himself (1 Cor. 7:23²³Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. (1 Corinthians 7:23)), He will assuredly keep us (1 Peter 1:5⁵Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)). None shall pluck us out of His hand (John 10:28²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)). Our life is safe beyond all contingencies, for it is "hid with Christ in God." Col. 3:3³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3). "Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." Rom. 14:8⁸For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:8).

Tossed about as we may be by ever-changing circumstances, still, to be entitled to say, "I am the Lord's," may well keep the soul in abiding peace. It is heaven begun below.

Come what will—painfulness or weariness, poverty or persecution, bonds or imprisonments, fire or flood—still the sweet words, "I am the Lord's," should enable us to say "None of these things move me." Acts 20:24²⁴But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24).

And what strength will it impart if this little word, "I am the Lord's," becomes an abiding thought running perpetually through the heart! It will detach us from an evil world; it will keep us calm and patient amidst all its restlessness and striving, its tumultuous commotions and disturbances; it will raise us above its empty pleasures, and protect us from its dangerous devices. We shall then be anxious about nothing, careful only to please our Father, for whatever troubles may threaten or assail, we can come with confidence, making our requests known unto God, and His own peace, according to His word, "shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6, 7⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6‑7).

Death itself is not death to the believer; it is the entrance into life, unhindered by any of the things that press us down here in this world. But not only will peace be our portion, but joy will be ever bubbling up, knowing that "He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Heb. 10:37³⁷For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37)), and then we shall be forever with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:17¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17).) E.J. Checkley

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