His

The Old Testament offers a rather depressing read. God creates man, and man turns against Him in sin. God starts again, and man’s depravity rears its ugly head almost immediately. God chooses a people, setting them apart as His own. Yet even before they officially become a nation, their rebellion against Him becomes apparent. Tragically, it only grows worse, not better.

In spite of all of this, the Old Testament also offers a beautiful message. Through all of the depravity, evil, and mess, one truth remains clear. These people belong to God. They are His, and nothing can change that. Even in the darkest moments of Israel’s history, God’s redemption plan is still underway. Even when every circumstance seems to indicate that He has abandoned His people, His promise of restoration surfaces. No matter what, they are His.

It gets better. Not only do these people belong to Him, I belong to Him, too! I am His! I can look back over just yesterday and see all the ways I failed Him. My lack of discipline and diligence, my distracted mind, my bad attitude, my procrastination, and so many other things point to patterns of disobedience. But not one of those things can change the fact that I am His.

God claimed me. Just as truly as He set Abraham and his entire lineage apart, He set me apart as well. Just like Abraham and his lineage, no matter what I do or how I rebel, I will always be claimed. I am His, permanently. While that does not give me license to sin, it does remind me that, like the Israelites, there is nothing I can do to reverse the covenant He has made with me. I am His, and there is no comfort greater than that knowledge.

Do you know you are His? If not, seek Him. Call Him. Chase after Him. He will answer! He will claim you, and you will be His permanently, for all eternity! If you do know you are His, never forget it. No matter how bleak the picture or how deep the sin, you are His, and nothing can change that.

I am off to face the day with a huge smile on my face, placed there simply by the remembrance that I belong to Him.