Be Mine

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. ‘They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.  Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.'” Malachi 3:16-18

“My beloved is mine, and I am his.” Song of Solomon 2:16

“Thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.'” Isaiah 43:1

Included by name in a book of remembrance. Bound in a bundle of treasured possessions. Spared from judgment, and distinguished from all who do not know or serve Him. All this offered in affection and backed by spoken promise by the Lord of hosts- hosts of angels, hosts of those who fear and esteem His name. His.

It is impossible to measure all it means to belong to Jesus. For the lonely, the alone. The insecure, the ashamed. The misunderstood, the misplaced. The fearful, the needy. The misdirected, the broken. The weary, the burdened. The hungry, the spent. The unstable, the wanderer. The overlooked, the ignored. These are the very ones He pursues to make His own forever. He takes note, hears, understands, befriends, enfolds, holds secure, sustains, keeps. And oh, how He loves. (Jeremiah 31:3)

“Loved with everlasting love,
Led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above,
Thou hast taught me it is so.
Oh, this full and perfect peace!
Oh, this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine.

Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms
Cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms,
Pillowed on the loving breast.
Oh, to lie forever here,
Doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear,
I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His:
Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart.
Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But, while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine. ~Wade Robinson

Do we believe this enough to fear and trust Him? With whom do we speak and extol His name? How are we esteeming Him as Creator and Lord of all, with thought life, worldview, and industry?

Secured and buoyed in this love, how lavishly do we love Him back, and others in His name? In what specific ways will we share that holy benevolence today?

Father, as Your beloved child, help me be so in the world, ever imbued with Your graciousness and bounty.