There are very important laws at work in the spiritual world. At times I attach little importance to them and pay no attention to them, yet they carry tremendous weight and exert a powerful influence on my life.
God is very wise and sparing with words in the way He reveals Himself. When He begins to speak, every word He says has been carefully considered. It has a definite purpose: to accomplish that for which it was spoken and sent.
To understand the importance of the brick called ‘I belong to God,’ let us look at Jesus and try to grasp the depth of this awareness of identity. Why is it so important to understand Whom I belong to, and what does this mean for me?
Jesus came to the Jordan to receive water baptism from John the Baptist by full immersion. John did not understand why he should baptize the One Who was pure and holy, but Jesus persuaded him to do it in order to fulfill all righteousness. The Lord gave us an example and showed the importance of this ordinance. Christ also underwent this baptism on behalf of those who, for some reason, would be unable to be baptized, such as the thief on the cross. When our Lord came up out of the water and prayed concerning the mission before Him, God the Father answered this prayer in a special way with the words, ‘Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased’ (Luke 3:22).
Picture the following scene. Jesus is praying about the mission before Him, waiting to see how the Father will answer. He does not know whether there will be a visible response, but by faith He places His life in God’s hands and assures Heaven that He is ready to fulfill the mission entrusted to Him. Then Christ hears that He is the beloved Son in Whom God is well pleased. Jesus is told that He belongs to God. Did He not already know this? He did. Even at the age of twelve, while visiting the Temple, Jesus made it clear to Joseph and Mary that He was God’s Son (Luke 2:49).
But God knows what He is doing. This declaration of identity given to Jesus held the key to victory in the trials that soon followed. For the people who had come to the Jordan, it was also a special sign that turned their hearts toward a deeper study of the prophecies about the Messiah and drew their attention to Jesus’ mission itself.
After being baptized, however, the Lord went into the wilderness completely alone. No one had expected events to take this turn. The people were waiting for a King Who would proclaim a New Kingdom and establish supreme authority, but the Messiah appeared and then disappeared—not for a day, but for forty days. Yet the voice from Heaven testified that He was indeed the One Who was to come.
After forty days of fasting, the Son of God became hungry. Satan immediately approached Him with a very strange proposal that began with the words, ‘If Thou be the Son of God…’ Did you notice what the enemy of souls was trying to exploit? He was trying to make Christ doubt that He belonged to God. Then the devil set Jesus on a pinnacle of the Temple and repeated the same challenge. Satan had prepared for this encounter for a long time, choosing just the right words to dishearten Jesus, and his deceptions possessed tremendous power. But the Lord did not enter into a debate with Satan or try to prove anything to him. He calmly answered with words from Scripture, which He carried in His heart as a weapon for both defense and attack.
The enemy of souls had no answer to such resistance, so he withdrew to prepare the next temptation.
Today the enemy uses the same methods against God’s children, who often doubt who they are and try to prove something, falling into his cunning traps. ‘If you are a Christian, then you must prove it in this or that way!’ We rush to respond, only to hear, ‘That does not convince me. Now do this as well!’ And again we hurry to prove something. But why?
Sometimes people ask me to prove whom I belong to, or to prove my love, by doing things I had not planned to do. I calmly reply that I will not do them because I see no need, and that I will instead do what the Lord places upon my heart. Yet the enemy hurls his accusations again and again.
The time of the Great Sacrifice that Christ would have to endure was approaching. He invited three disciples to go up a mountain and pray with Him. As He prayed, He was transfigured; His garments began to shine, two men appeared to Him, and a cloud came over them. We read in Luke 9:35: ‘And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son: hear Him.’ Once again God speaks very briefly and repeats what He said before, adding that we must obey Him. Why did He say so little, and why these particular words? We need to understand their depth. Christ’s identity was being reaffirmed.
When the Lord was crucified, Satan once again addressed Him through wicked people, saying: ‘If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us’ (Luke 23:39); ‘Save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross’ (Matthew 27:40); and ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him’ (Matthew 27:42).
Once again Christ hears that terrible if. He could have given them proof, and this was a severe trial for Him, because He possessed the strength and authority to do so and was capable of using them. But Jesus did not try to prove anything to anyone. Instead, He prayed for His enemies, understanding that He was saving them from a terrible fate and that there was no other way to deliver the sinner from the anguish of eternal death. Jesus did not doubt that He belonged to God, and this knowledge helped Him stand firm in the most difficult trial.
Every human being has a need to be part of a family. Every child longs to belong to someone. Even a troubled family is better than a good orphanage. I have heard the testimonies of people who adopted children from orphanages and described how the children immediately began calling their adoptive parents Mom and Dad. This awareness of identity brings a sense of belonging, being needed, and protection in this sinful world. It is very important for every child to know whose child he or she is. God’s children also need this awareness. A proper understanding of whom I belong to gives me strength and confidence in many trials, because I know Who my Father is, that He loves me, and that He will protect me as His son, just as He promised. This knowledge helps me find my bearings and courageously endure everything God permits in my life.
I belong to God. This is not only my protection during trials; it is also my weapon for taking new territory. The Lord gave His children power to tread on serpents and scorpions and assured us that He is with us always, even unto the end of the world. I believe this, and with this knowledge I face many trials, and nothing can harm me.
I belong to God. As simple as this may sound, this identity makes me part of the Heavenly family and gives me an understanding of my status and authority.
How would a man feel if his wife were ashamed to tell others that she was married, publicly denied her husband, and kept her distance to avoid ridicule? The disciple Peter once chose to do this, and afterward he bitterly regretted it.
I belong to God. I know Whom I have believed. I know Whose I am. I believe that God is my Father, that I have been born again to live forever, that Jesus loves me, that He is my Savior, and that I am in His hand. Every hair on my head is numbered, and I have nothing to fear. All this is so natural, yet for some reason many of God’s children do not know it or are ashamed to acknowledge it. But it is so important to carry this assurance in the heart.
Bible verses for this chapter:
Matthew 3:16–17; 4:3, 6; 17:5; 27:39–43, 54; 2 Peter 1:16–18; Daniel 3:24–25; Matthew 26:62–66; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; John 3:16–18; 5:25–29; 1:25–27; Acts 9:19–20; Hebrews 4:14; 1 John 4:15; 5:12; Revelation 2:18