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“For that night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve appeared to me” (Acts 27:23). I belong to the Lord, and you? Musicians, choir singers, preachers, and leaders often sing and preach the phrase: “I am your servant.” What does it mean to be a servant? It means to be obedient to God and to use the talent God has given you for His kingdom.
There are only two contenders for your life: God and the devil. There is no one in between, nor can there be. Jesus Christ said that you love one and hate the other. It is impossible to serve two masters at the same time. To whom do you belong? A song says, "I am yours, I am yours, I belong entirely to you; what I have and what I desire, I lay at your feet." What if that isn't true, what if I don't belong entirely to the Lord? What if I spend my life preoccupied with fashion, music, and other worldly pursuits?
The Bible contains some sad verses: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23).
Are you neither cold nor hot (cf. Rev 3:15)? Many will deceive themselves, for they already deceive themselves by justifying themselves. For if we judged ourselves, we would not be condemned. Therefore, we must judge ourselves through the Word and by confessing our own deeds. Christ says of Himself: “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has no hold on me” (John 14:30).
It is not words, but actions that reveal who we are.
Everything belongs to the Lord, and when we choose to belong entirely to Him, it means putting God first in everything and receiving protection, power, and blessing in all things. This was true for Paul. God gave everything into his hands to manage. Belshazzar, on the other hand, used the temple vessels for a strange and unworthy purpose and paid for it with his life (see Daniel 5:2). The Lord watches over what belongs to Him with strict care.
Whoever has a wife wouldn't allow her to belong to another man for even an hour? No man would even entertain the thought. But why do we allow ourselves to forget who we are and whose property we are? How can the Lord accept that we love something of the world? Do you think God can accept that we belong to this world for even one hour a week? Remember Lot's wife.
We live in the “last days” and often talk about it. Godlessness is a stumbling block for us. But instead of being a light to this world, we forget who we are and to whom we belong. In this world, it is our duty, and the duty of the church, to shine and be salt. This is the most important task and responsibility that Christ entrusted to us. If you do not take this responsibility seriously, the Lord will spit you out of His mouth (see Revelation 3:16). Another translation says, “He will cast you out, and there will be no way back.” Can we forget that? No! My dear friends, NO! We must not forget it. Especially not when we consider what Christ has done for us, the price He paid for you and me, and what awaits us in eternity.
Because if we were to judge ourselves, we would not be condemned.
It is written that we must renounce everything. And not just with words, but also with deeds. The sinner belongs to sin or the devil. Let's not kid ourselves. If you wear the clothes of a sinner and look like one, you cannot say, "I love the Lord." He doesn't look at the outward appearance, but at the heart. For what you wear, you also wear in your heart. If you belong to the Lord, then ask Him if what you do and how you behave pleases Him. "But I am afraid that, just as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds may be corrupted from the sincerity of Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).
There are only two contenders for your life: God and the Devil.
It is important to keep God in our thoughts, to fulfill His commandments, and to understand and interpret His teachings correctly. Not words, but actions reveal who we are. Christ says: "I know your works" (cf. Rev 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15). He knows all your deeds, how you think, what you say, where you look, how you love, and how you hate. Therefore, let us do our best to become ever more like Christ and to live up to the responsibility of this great name—to be a Christian!
Waldemar Friesen
Municipality of Aldingen