John 5:16-23, For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Therefore, Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
One of the first juvenile exclamations little humans utilize is usually, “MINE!” Somehow, this word or its sentiments don’t even need to be taught. Most won’t argue about the origination of the response, “NO” but where “MINE” comes from is a bit of a mystery. Personal ownership is one of the most fundamental elements of our concerned psychology. No one has to learn to be the central focus of their life; we actually have to learn to focus differently.
It seems that we are created with a sense of needing to know something belongs to us. From our earliest days we begin inventorying our own possessions using the process of elimination. Everything in our vision is ours until we learn what our parents tell us is not ours, or we learn what can be taken from us. Maturity is not so much disregarding our “MY” interpretation of life, as it is being able to recognize and handle what is and isn’t ours.
There are actually very few things that actually belong to me. So why do we have this innate need to possess something? If we could never call anything ours, life would be deflated and empty. While God is not the “god of no”, He loves us enough to encourage us not to have a death grip on things we cannot keep. God points our ownership desire toward what is good and holy and productive for us. We should call “MINE” only what is excellent and pure. So, God gives us the one thing which can never be taken, tarnished, or devalued – He gives us Himself!
Living in this world conditions us to a never-ending procession of NO! God, in the midst of all this says YES! He gives us what we seek in salvation and freedom. He allows us to be free from the sinful pain and condemned reward we have earned. Instead, He brings peace and reconciliation. As we seem to reach out to claim all that we can around us, may we grow enough to see the blessings God has laid down right in front of us. Have a great day and may your journey find Him at its destination.