Jesus Christ stakes His claim upon me from three stand-points: the natural, the legal, and the personal. He claims me naturally, simply because He created me: “It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3). We do not belong to ourselves. The earth and all its furnishings belong to the Lord, including those “that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1, KJV).
But He also claims me because He redeemed me, thus adding a a legal right to a natural one. “You are not your own … you have been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). The right of redemption settles forever any subversion of Christ’s natural rights over me because of Satan. I am His twice; and if the first right is not enough, the second right certainly is.
Despite His two strong claims upon me, Jesus Christ still applies the personal appeal: “I beg you … brothers, in view of God’s mercies, that you present your bodies” (Romans 12:1, Berkeley). That amazes me, Lord! A God who owns me twice still begs for my love, loyalty. and service. He pleads for my submission, not on the basis of His rights, but based on His sufferings.
God is all-wise. He knows that the batterings of force only harden and stiffen, while the appeals to mercy and love break down the hardest of wills and create the most lasting of commitments. “Just as I am, thy love unknown has broken every barrier down.” So it does. And so throughout the Bible those tender, loving appeals ring out from a God who could easily blast His way to success. Thank You, Lord, for respecting me enough to win me by love and not by force! You speak wooingly to me: “You are precious in My sight … and I love you” (Isaiah 43:4).
“But now, thus says the Lord, your creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!’” (Isaiah 43:1).
Daily with the King 