What a morning for me as I read and study. I have been a Christian for a good number of years and have followed Him and the direction He had for my life. This morning I was reminded of something that I frankly had forgotten and may have just put in the back of my mind as I have traversed this world, I “belong” to Christ. Yes, I belong to Him, I do not just follow Him.
“25So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” — Acts 11:25-26 (ESV)
I want to take a moment to talk about this Saul noted above. Saul was the Jew persecuting individual who was converted to Christianity and went on to lead a life of discipleship for the LORD. At this point, he was not known to all as Paul (which we more commonly know him as). He was “new” to the field of apostles and yet, at this point in his life as he was teaching in Antioch, was referred to as a Christian along with others.
Now, the word “Christian” is used three times in the New Testament, and this is the first of them. Notice who it is referring to, those who were the followers of Christ and not just everyone who heard of Him or just seemed to go to church. Those who followed Christ were those who “belonged” to Him and were not just around some of the time. I have to take a deeper look at myself and determine if I am a follower who belongs to Him or someone who just says they are.
When Paul was converted to Christ, He went to study Him and the Word of God. He did not just jump in claiming to know all. He devoted himself to God to “know” Him and be able to spread the gospel as Jesus had. Paul (as Saul noted here) was only focused on the one thing and that was spreading the gospel of Christ and that demonstrated his belonging to Christ.
I look to my inward and outward self to see where I fall in the following of Christ. Am I just a person who is calling on Him in my time of need, or do I belong to Him to spread the gospel as Jesus had. Am I able to confidently say that I belong to Christ or am I here for others to literally “see”. Am I concerned with how God sees me or the way the world sees me.
As a Christian, it is my goal to follow Christ wherever He would have me go and do whatever He would have me do. I do for Him and not for me. I study to know Him and bring Him to others and not for my own enjoyment. I belong to Him and will do as I am instructed to carry out His work.
How do you see yourself in your relationship with Christ? Are you one who shows up to the events of Christ or one who belongs to Him? What if you were to fully belong to Christ and follow Him wherever He would have you go and do whatever He would have you do?
Trevor's Thoughts 