Having lived most of my life in Florida, hurricanes are nothing new.  But seeing the images of the devastation from Hurricane Ian are mind-boggling.  Rivers where streets once were.  Empty plots where houses once stood.  The outline of a state altered. 

These images recall the destruction of Hurricane Michael, the last major storm to hit Florida.  My family and I witnessed the remnants of this destruction first-hand when we visited the area in the spring after the storm.  Even then, Michael’s mark was evident everywhere we looked.

Like many others, I pray for the rescue efforts, the survivors, and all those impacted by Ian.  As the water recedes, may resources rush in.  And may the rebuilding process be successful and smooth – layer upon layer, brick by brick.

Storms can be scary.  Experiencing them on land is bad enough; I couldn’t imagine being on a boat in the middle of a hurricane!  But that is exactly where the Apostle Paul found himself in Acts 27.  He was on board a ship to Rome in the middle of a storm, with the dangerous shallows of Syrtis lurking nearby.  According to the New English Translation, this was an area of sandbars and shallow water.  “It had a horrible reputation as a sailors’ graveyard… The name alone struck terror in those who heard it.” (footnote for Acts 27:17 NET)

Yet Paul stood steadfast.  In verse 23, he tells the other passengers of the vision God gave him assuring him of his safety and the safety of everyone onboard.  Consider his choice of words as he explains his vision and introduces God to them.  “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul…” (Acts 27:23, 24 NASB)

The God to whom I belong and whom I serve.  According to the New English Translation, the original Greek word translated as belong means “of whom I am.”  In other words, “I am of Him.” 

Many churchgoers profess belief in God, but can they say they are of Him?  It’s one thing to go to church, spend time around Christians, and participate in Christian activity.  It’s another thing entirely to belong to Him. 

• I am of Him. 
• I belong to Him. 
• In Him, I live and move and have my being (Acts 17:28)

These truths are the Christian’s mantra.  What defines us as Christians, as seen in Galatians 2:20, is that we died to ourselves and now live for Him.  We no longer live for ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15).  Because of the sacrificial death of Jesus and His resurrection, we now have eternal life.  Therefore, we are of Him – and hopefully our lives reflect that. 

What a wonderful truth!  I’m so thankful for the freedom to be alive in Him – that we can be begotten of Him and filled with His life.  We can be free from servitude to self, a relentless master, and serve the One who alone knows what’s best for us and can bring it about. 

We now live by a higher standard than our impulses and desires.  We live by faith in the son of God who loves us and died for us (Galatians 2:20).  We live abundant life (John 10:10). 

So, by dying to ourselves and living for God, we forfeit what can never truly satisfy and embrace what we were made for – a beautiful exchange.  We gladly sacrifice what is lesser to receive what is greater. 

And in so doing, we let God do for us what no one and nothing else can, what we can’t do ourselves.  He saves and satisfies our souls.  He meets our every need and lavishes us with love.

We then spend the rest of our earthly lives belonging to Him.  We can say we are of Him, and we let this infuse every facet of life – life as it was meant to be lived.