MINE.

There are daily insights in to biblical truth all around us every day. Often times for me these come through the insights of my son. Sometimes they are not always easy reflections to see. 


J loves to play puzzles. He loves to play these on my phone. At times this tool is great for stealing a needed moment to get something done while he keeping him safely occupied (as opposed to trying to climb onto the top rack of the dishwasher or throw himself in the dryer). But more increasingly these interactions lead to tantrums when the phone is taken back. Now it is true he is in the midst of the "terrible twos", but the truth that he utters in these terrible moments is also a reflection of MY heart. One that does great damage to understanding and applying,in relevant ways, God's love to my life everyday.


The word that stings me is "mine." Choruses of, "my phone daddy", "my car daddy" or "my drink daddy" careen around the house. It can sound like the pelicans on Finding Nemo, mine, mine, mine."  The thing that gets me is this.  Often that the first words I respond with are, "No son, those are mine." My phone, my car, my drink, my time, mine, mine, mine...


Could it be that in my mid-30's I am still at heart a terrible two? What is it in me that make s me claim ownership to things that really aren't mine? Truth be told, I have very little in this life that I own. Practically most of what is owned belongs to a bank somewhere. Realistically EVERYTHING belongs to the Lord and I get to enjoy it for a season.  There are many Scriptures that remind us of this:
Job says, "Naked I come from my mother's womb and naked shall I return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord."


The Lord says, "For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills and all that moves in the field is mine."


Even more encouraging are these words in Isaiah 43:1, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." The rest the chapter goes on to remind the people that they are who they are not because of their guilty blindness but because by grace, The Lord has declared YOU are MINE.


The 'mines' in my life and thinking need to turn into a recognition of what is truly YOURS. We get crossed-up when we turn things upside down. Making God small and our agendas big, trusting in what we do instead of what Jesus has done for us, calling things that are truly His as though they were ours.


The word mine is a telling word in two ways. It tells of a selfish and twisted hearts that seek to HAVE things and USE them though they are not REALLY ours. It is a beautiful word though when used properly--by the true owner-- to claim things that ought to be left unclaimed. This is the beauty and power of the gospel. Despite being orphaned in sin, God in his love decides to claim us for his very own child.


I love these beautiful, redemptive words in Malachi 3:17-18, "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 they shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him."


Today the challenge is to serve the Lord. This begins by recognizing the "mines" in life are really His. By seeing that THE Son who truly served the Father was not spared but sacrificed. And that in that sacrifice Jesus earned our redemption to make us God's treasured possession. Jesus' sacrifice means we are spared. It means that today,the Lord says to those who fear him, "you are mine". Now that's a word I need to hear.