“And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” - John 17:10
What is the most valuable item that you own? Is it your car? Maybe it's your home. It could be a family heirloom. Perhaps it is the money you have stored away in stocks and bonds. Most of us aren't rich. I know I'm not. Yet compared to many people in the world, I seem wealthy. You see, some live on the streets. Others live in impoverished areas where mere necessities are rare. Some are starving to death as I write this. In spite of our best efforts, poverty is still a major problem here in America, as well as overseas.
While we may struggle financially in this world, we know that God is not poor. His treasures are immense, intrinsic and eternal. He is not concerned about the performance of the stock market. His wealth is not taxable. The filthy, greedy hands of sinful men are not permitted to touch His bountiful supply of riches.
As Jesus was praying to the Father in John 10, He mentions a possession that was precious to Him. Referring to His disciples, Jesus said, “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” We shutter to think that one person owns another. We have this opinion due to our understanding of slavery, in particular as it unfolded here in America. We want to think that all Americans are free from such bondage. However, human trafficking is still an ongoing issue, even here in our country.
Furthermore, many are in bondage to substances like drugs and alcohol. Such bondage is real and lethal. I live in the southern part of West Virginia. Substance abuse is a major problem in this region. It is heartbreaking to realize that many of the funerals in my area are due to overdose. While we wish to brag that slavery is gone from our land, we must confess that many are slaves to substances and can't break free apart from a miracle.
Human slavery is illegal here in America, as it should be. While we emphasize human freedom, we must understand an important spiritual truth. We still belong to someone else. Either we belong to the devil or to the Lord. There are many who claim that they don't belong to anyone … yet that is a deception that many are living in. Sin is a form of bondage that is wrecking the lives of many. It is a sinister foe. We are all born into sin. Yet we must confess our personal choice to indulge in sin. Yes, we are sinners by birth. But we are also sinners by choice. The devil has many people bound in the bondage to sin. Many of them are oblivious to their perilous state. I was in the same situation. So were you.
Thankfully, Jesus came and purchased us with His blood. That transaction is something we call redemption. Through faith in Him, our title of ownership changed from the devil to the Lord. The devil does not care about his possessions. He treats people harshly and leads them to death. Our Lord has lovingly welcomed us into His fellowship. When He purchased us, He adopted us into His family. I don't keep myself. I am kept by One who loves me and seeks the best of me. He is actively working in my life, doing things for me that I could never do for myself. It is a blessing to belong to Him!
Returning to our text, Jesus prayed about His disciples, “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine.” All who belong to Jesus also belong to the Father and vice versa. The disciples belonged to Jesus and the Father.
What a blessing to belong to the Lord. Consider how prized we are to Him! He has invested heavily in us. Jesus gave His life to save us. Salvation is a free gift to us, but it came at a high cost to the Lord. That is how much He loves us. We are His prized possessions!
Jesus continued, “I am glorified in them.” His work in the lives of believers brings glory and honor to Him. Who are we to take credit for what the Lord does? If you are a child of God, this is due to the work of Christ, not your own. Our boasting is in vain. Only God should be praised for our salvation. His continued work of sanctification is something only He should be praised for. Our ultimate glorification at the resurrection will be His work, too. He, alone, will deserve praise for this. When we enter the bliss of heaven, we will be trophies of His grace.
Let's think about what the Lord did for us. When Jesus came to earth, God stepped down of heaven so that we may ultimately step up into glory. He made Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself, so that we may be exalted to be children of God. God came to men so that men could come to God. He died so that we may live. One day, I turned to Him in repentance and faith and a great transaction took place. I gave Him my life and He gave me His. I surrendered my empty heart so that He could make it new. He has moved in to stay. I was dead and He made me alive. I was an old relic that was nothing more than garbage. He took me and changed me and made me His very own. I am thankful that I belong to Him. The future is looking bright. I am an heir of the King! I am His prized possession.
Do you belong to Him?