You Are Mine!

 

“And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare. When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil.” (Ezekiel 16:6-9 ESV).

 

In order to fully understand our reading today we ought to also consider the Apostle Paul when he wrote: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV). This is both positional and relational language. The Bible uses “adoption” to describe who we are in Christ. It is a powerful image.

 

Perhaps you have read about or seen heart-wrenching pictures of orphanages in some countries where babies lie unattended in their cribs, crying piteously in unchanged diapers. No one plays with them, hugs them, kisses them, or coos at them. The workers are overburdened and overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. Our reading today includes a striking allegory about Jerusalem in its miserable plight. Israel was lying unloved and unattended, at the mercy of all who surrounded them. Truthfully that is the condition of all people before God adopts them through the grace secured by Jesus’ death and resurrection.

 

The Apostle John says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 1:5). Or, as Paul put it, “In love he predestined us for adoption.” If God had left us in our sinful state, we would have died. And today, because God has put his Spirit in us, we can live forever. Because of his love for us, we can turn away from sin. Believing in Christ, we are washed, and we live in his love. We are cherished. God becomes our loving Father. He loves and disciplines us as his children, and we live in his family forever. That is the amazing love of God!