“Are you a member of our rewards program?” the cashier asks me at whatever random store I am buying an item. Before I put my phone number into their machine to see, I ask what benefit I will reap for belonging. The poor young woman does not know. Perhaps she’s never been asked before. We just simply belong to things today, and the commitment is so low.

Sadly, this secular way of thinking has crept into the church. Both Satan and Jesus have been campaigning long for your vote. Your soul is at stake. The promises from the “father of lies” have proven to be empty while those of the One who embodies truth have proved to be “precious and very great.”

So, the next lie is that you “belong” to God with very little invested. The devil doesn’t stop us from going to Bible class or worship services when it’s convenient to us. Nor does he shake when we obey the gospel as he knows we won’t grow in our faith. Just as long as we’ll shrug at the pearly gates when asked if we belong.

#Bible #commitment #belonging