Belonging to Jesus

Last Wednesday, I went with Kim to Target in Eastlake. She wanted to buy a toy for a child in her Primary Sabbath School class who had answered one of her questions correctly.

While Kim shopped, I headed to Lowe’s to pick up a few things I needed to fix a sprinkler in our backyard that I had accidentally damaged while mowing.

As I walked through the store, I noticed an aisle displaying souvenirs commemorating the United States' 250th anniversary. A khaki camouflage cap with an American flag caught my attention. I put it on my head to keep my hands free while gathering the items I needed.

At the checkout, I had trouble scanning one item, so a store attendant came to help. As I packed my purchases into my reusable bag, she said, “That’s weird. Why did the alarm go off?” Then she quickly added, “Never mind,” just as I was about to show her what I had paid for.

I returned to our minivan, where Kim was waiting. She was in a rush for her 10:00 a.m. appointment, and it was already about 9:40. As soon as I started the car, I realized what had happened. I was still wearing the commemorative cap—and I had forgotten to pay for it.

Later, we returned to the store. I explained to the same attendant that I had accidentally left wearing the cap without paying and wanted to correct my mistake. She thanked me, and I overheard her telling a co-worker about what had happened. The other employee seemed surprised that someone would voluntarily return to pay for something already taken.

That experience made me think about a different kind of belonging. Unlike that cap, which became mine only after I paid for it, our belonging to Jesus rests entirely upon what He has done for us. Paul writes, “You were bought at a price…” (1 Corinthians 7:23, NKJV). The price was the life of Jesus Christ, given for our redemption. We do not buy His acceptance or earn our place in His family. We belong to Him because He first gave Himself for us.

Norman J. Clayton wrote, “Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity.”

What a wonderful assurance: I belong to Jesus—not just for this life, but for eternity.

-Pastor Lim Liwanag