Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

January 12– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon; revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“You are Christ’s.” 

—I Corinthians 3:23

 

You are Christ’s, and you belong to him for several reasons. You are his by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son. You’re his by means of his bloody purchase, for he paid the full price for your redemption. You are his by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to him. You’re his by relation, for you wear his name and have been made one of his brothers and a joint-heir of the Father’s estate.

Work carefully to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, and the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, “I can’t do this; this is wrong, and I am Christ’s.” When you can become wealthy by sinful means, openly refuse it because you are Christ’s! Are you exposed to danger? Stand fast in that time of evil, remembering that you are Christ’s. Are you serving Christ in a place where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? Engage the work with all your strength. When the sweat beads on your brow and you’re tempted to rest, cry out, “No, I cannot stop, for I am Christ’s.” When the siren songs of pleasure tempt you from the path, reply, “Your music can’t charm me; I am Christ’s.” When God invites you to give your goods and even your very self away, do it, for you are Christ’s. May your every action and word carry the scent of heaven so that all who see you may know that you belong to him.

The Romans used to exercise their integrity by saying, “I am a Roman!” How much more should our behavior conform to the statement, “I am Christ’s! [M&E]