Belong

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD. (Numbers 3:44-45 NLT)

Have you ever been proud to belong to someone?  Perhaps you heard a stirring speech from the leader of your company and you found yourself proud to be an employee.  Maybe you watched as the leader of your country helped everyone navigate through a difficult time and you were proud to belong to that country.  It could be as simple as watching your mom or dad living or acting a certain way and you were proud to be a part of your family...to "belong" to them.

The Levites "belonged" to God.  They were set apart as special, holy, and useful for His service.  Everyone knew it.  People probably wished they could be a Levite, too.  Walking that closely with God was a real honor.

You belong to God, too.  When we come back to God through the work of Jesus on the cross, we change and become like the Levites.  Jesus is described as the cornerstone of the church.  Some of us build on his foundation.  Others trip over this stone.

And, "He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:8-9 NLT)

Now, as a Christ-follower, you are set-apart just like the Levites.  

You are special.  You are holy.  You are useful for His service.  

Are you proud to belong to God?