Bought With Love, Led with Peace

Well now, friend, come on up to this ol’ front porch and ease yourself down like a tired ol’ farm cat findin’ the sunny spot on the steps. There’s a truth here sweeter than blackberry cobbler and sturdier than a hickory stump in a windstorm. If you belong to Jesus, you are not driftin’ through life like a leaf in a muddy creek. You belong to Him. That may sound mighty weighty at first, but it’s better news than findin’ an extra biscuit in the bread basket.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”  That plum means this life ain’t mine to run wild with like a lil’ ol’ goat that busted through the fence and headed straight for the cabbage patch. I belong to Christ. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. He lives within me, leads me, corrects me, comforts me, and teaches me how to walk in a way that pleases God.

Sho’-nuff’, that kind of belongin’ is freedom. I don’t have to wear myself slick tryin’ to please every opinion that flaps by like a lil’ ol’ crow in a cornfield. I don’t have to keep performin’ like a pony at the county fair. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says Christ died so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him. Now that’ll straighten a soul out right quick. When you know whose you are, you stop panickin’ over everybody else’s applause.

The One who bought you is the One who loves you best. So, when the Holy Spirit nudges your heart, you can downright trust Him. His leadership ain’t never cruel, never careless, and never confused.

Father, thank You that I belong to You. Help me to live each day with a heart that gladly follows Your Spirit. Cleanse anything in me that resists Your leading, and teach me to rest in the joy, peace, and freedom of being wholly Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Alright then, friend, rise up and stretch them ol’ muscles a lil’ bit as you git to steppin’ off from this porch and headin’ on back into your day like a lil’ ol’ bluebird that finally remembered which way the nest was. Don’t you go wanderin’ around like a lil’ lost calf lookin’ for a gate that’s already open. You plum belong to Jesus, and that changes everything. So, git to walkin’ on real steady, listenin’ real close, and livin’ real brave because the heart that sho’-nuff’ belongs to Christ is held tighter than overalls on a windy clothesline.

With joy,

Gwen