Belonging

DEVOTION
ROMANS
BELONGING
Rom 14:5-8
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in they own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
NIV
Why I would ever think I belong to myself is foolishness when I read this verse. Yet at times it would seem I live as though I do. What does it matter the particular set of beliefs I have as compared to a particular set of beliefs another has? Each person finds a church or a group who has a slightly different view on one or more doctrinal issues. To speak in tongues, not to speak in tongues would be one. To baptize by immersion or sprinkle is another that exists. Then one church has deacons and elders, while another simply has a church board. Some allow deaconess’s some don’t allow them. Some baptize in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, others simply in the name of Jesus, Some call God, Father while others use Creator. The list goes on, and I think most of it is man trying to live for himself rather than for God. Am I in that category? Do I sit in judgment or opposition to all this others? I think each must determine in his own mind what holy and acceptable service to God is. We all must come to the realization we belong to God. All those little differences, do they really matter? When it comes down to the final point, accepting Jesus Christ as the Son of God and that He came to die on the cross for my sin, for each person’s sin, and he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God is all that matters. If we all simply live for God, if I simply live for God is at the core of the issue. I cannot live for myself. I cannot always pursue my own live, my own goals, my own dreams or desires. I cannot simply think I am all alone in this world, to do and be as I please. No, I belong to God.