Devotionals

I Belong to God

by Susan Barnes 
10/02/20
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“Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever” (Psalm 73:23-26).

Christians belong to God. The world would tell us that belonging to God restricts our freedom and promotes doing our own thing regardless of the consequences. But is that true freedom?

If we can’t stop doing something, we aren’t free. Adults are free to drink alcohol, but if they can’t stop drinking, they’re in bondage to alcohol. A drug addict is in bondage to his drugs, a shopaholic is in bondage to shopping, someone who is obsessive-compulsive is in bondage, to whatever they are compulsive about.

Anytime we can’t stop doing something we’re in bondage to it, even if it’s a good thing. If we can’t stop working, we’re in bondage to our work, if we can’t stop helping someone, we may be codependent and in bondage to them. There seems to be no limit to the things people can be addicted to. It might be video games, Facebook, or television. 

If you want to know if you’re in bondage to something, just ask yourself if you can stop. Maybe take a break for a few days and see if you can really stop. When we belong to God, he gives us real freedom. The freedom to stop doing harmful things, even good things that are harmful when taken to an extreme. When we belong to God, he is our strength to overcome bondage.