Belonging and living

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 AMP

We belong to God. We have the victory because He Who lives in us is greater than he who is in the world. The Message bible puts it this way.

My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. 1 John 4:4 The Message

Can you build a picture of that in your mind? A picture of God's Spirit living in you, loving you, guiding you, giving you life every day. What a beautiful picture. A picture of perfect love. But is it not just a picture, it is the truth. Even though we can't see God, because of Jesus sacrifice for us, His Spirit is able to live in us.

Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:23-24 The Message

How blessed are we? Despite every thing going on around us, we have the assurance that we can experience God's 'deep abiding presence' by His Spirit in us.  And with His presence comes love, joy, peace and so much more.

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Galatians 5:22-23 AMP

Again, how blessed are we? No amount of money or material wealth could ever buy us such 'fruit'. This fruit is freely available to those who belong to Christ Jesus. 

[The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who as to the flesh (His human nature) was descended from David, and [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was opening designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant and miraculous manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the Messiah, the Anointed One). It is through Him that we have received grace (God's unmerited favour) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name's sake among all the nations, And this includes you, called of Jesus Christ and invited [as you are] to belong to Him. Romans 1:3-6 AMP

Questions for today, do you know who you belong to? Do you know what is available to you because you belong to Jesus? Do you experience God's deep and abiding presence every day? If not, take time today to 'be still' and listen. Listen for the promptings of His Spirit. Picture His love and peace within you, waiting for you to acknowledge them and let them pervade your life.

This how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. I John 4:13 The Message