Bought with a Price

I heard the story of an older gentleman who was known for his godly life. One day someone asked him, “What do you do when you get tempted?”

He answered, “Well, I just look up to Heaven and say, ‘Lord, your property is in danger.’ ”

We read in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “You are not your own.” It could be translated, “You are not your own property. You were bought with a price.” God has reassured us of this by putting His seal on us as a king might seal his property. We are told in 2 Corinthians 1:21–22, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

As believers, we belong to God. We are His children. We are His sheep. We are His property. We are also His children. Romans 8:15 tells us, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ ” “Abba” was an affectionate cry of a Hebrew child. If you go to Israel today, you can still hear little children crying out to their dads, “Abba!” It is affectionate, endearing, and close.

My children, and now my grandchildren, have always had access to me. They don’t have to make an appointment to meet with me. They just walk up and talk to me. If I’m in a crowded room and my grandchildren come walking in and yell out, “Papa!” the conversation I’m having will be over. That is the kind of relationship we have and the access they have. In the same way, we have that kind of access to God.