My People

"…I will be their God, and they shall be my people."    2 Corinthians 6:16

What a sweet title: “My people!” What a cheering revelation: “Their God!” How much of meaning is couched in those two words, “My people!” Here is speciality. The whole world is God's; the heaven, even the heaven of heavens is the Lord's, and He reignes among the children of men; but of those whom He has chosen, whom He has purchased to Himself, He says what He says not of others—“My people.” In this word there is the idea of proprietorship. In a special manner "the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 32:9) All the nations upon earth are His; the whole world is in His power; yet are His people, His chosen, are more especially His possession; for He has done more for them than others; He has bought them with His blood; he has brought them nigh to himself; He has set His great heart upon them; He has loved them with an everlasting love, a love which many waters cannot quench, and which the revolutions of time shall never suffice in the least degree to diminish. Dear friends, can you, by faith, see yourselves in that number? Can you look up to heaven and say, “My Lord and my God: mine by that sweet relationship which entitles me to call You Father; mine by that hallowed fellowship which I delight to hold with You when You are pleased to manifest Yourself to me as You do not to the world?” Can you read the Biblle, and find there the guarantee of your salvation? Can you read your title written in precious blood? Can you, by humble faith, lay hold of Jesus’ garments, and say, “My Christ”? If you can, then God says of you, and of others like you, “My people;” for, if God be your God, and Christ your Christ, the Lord has a special, peculiar favour to you; you are the object of His choice, accepted in His beloved Son. (Ephesians 1:6)

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Morning, C.H. Spurgeon