Belonging To Jesus

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If i try to live longer because i'm afraid of dying, that is not of God.  Fear doesn't come from Him ut of power, love, and a sound mind--that comes from Him. - [2 Timothy 1:7]  i need not dread death because Jesus already died in my place.  Far from being quite terrifying the idea of death means being absent from the body and present with the Lord.  All i need do now is abide in Him and keep my focus, trust, and faith in Him.  My freedom in Christ doesn't mean that i can't be held accountable for my actions--oh, there will be consequences! --my Facebook account is a living testimony of where i've been, where i am, and where i'm going.  i expect to be headed on the right path, but that makes me responsible for the direction i'm taking.

God gave me freedom from sin, not the freedom to sin, so as my timeline suggests, i've begun that difficult process of repentance.  It's an ongoing process, not a decision to believe in Jesus one day and let it go at that.  Help me, Abba Father, to do better, to improve every day in living for Jesus instead of myself...And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. - [2 Corinthians 5:15] 

i feel the joy of belonging to Jesus because He personally chose me.  Just imagine!  The Son of God, God Himself, choosing me!  i did nothing to deserve this...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible thought, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot- [1 Peter 1: 18-19  We could never have kept the law perfectly--how many commandments do i break each day?



  Which ones are they?  Yet, being a follower of Christ, i am not guilty.  And that brings me joy.  Forget happiness, fleeting happiness.  i am filled with joy!

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