Sealed by the King

     When we value something, we mark it in some fashion to let others know it belongs to us.  My mother did this when I got ready to go off to college.  She obtained labels with my name imprinted on it and began to sew them into my clothing, so if anything was lost, whoever found it would know who the owner was and return it.  Likewise, we tend to mark valuables like a purse, a ring or even engrave our iPad so people will know it belongs to us.  In fact, it doesn't stop with things like clothing.  Today we even chip our cats and dogs in case they get lost.  We certainly did that with our dog as he is important to us.  While we do this to protect our valuables, we often forget that we have also been marked by God if we are believers in Jesus Christ.

 
   In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes these words (2 Cor. 1:21-22):  " 21And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."  When we confess our faith in Jesus Christ, God sets a seal in our heart, and we are marked as His sheep.  Jesus, Himself, affirmed that our new life could not be forfeited or terminated either.  In John 5:24, we read:  "Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."  This is good news!!!  Yes, we may stray, but we have a Good Shepherd who will seek us out.  We may face difficulties, or have our ups and downs but our future is secure in Christ.  When we sin (and we all do that at one time or another), we have an advocate in Jesus Christ our Savior.  I John 1:9 tells us that "If we confess our sins, He if faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  It is as simple as that.

     Other verses written by the Apostle Paul also assure us of the seal of God's Spirit in the soul of those who belong to Him.  Look at Ephesians 1:13-14:  "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."  Then later in the same letter, Paul writes in Ephesians 4:30:  "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."  Isn't it good to know that God has given us a seal in our heart to prove that we belong to Him?

     When doubts assail us, troubles come, or loved ones die, we have an assurance from God that we belong to Him.  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  While Satan may try his hardest to fill us with anxiety, we have only to turn to the Father and call upon His name.  He has authority to tell him "Hands off!  This is my child sealed by the Holy Spirit!"  Let us rejoice in this good news for Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:6:  "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."  It is God who has sealed us and is working in and through us as we walk on this earth.  Therefore, we need to rejoice in Him not only today but every day.  Selah!

When We Need Assurance

     During a family get together, one of our grandson's received a reprimand from his father.  He was embarrassed and sorry for his disobedience.  He began to cry as he was instructed to sit on a couch for a time out.  Since I was sitting close by, I encouraged him to come and sit on the love seat with me.  I gave him a hug and told him that everything would turn out okay because his father loved him so very much.  He said it didn't feel like his dad loved him, but I reassured him that this was not the case at all.  I told him that a good father corrects his children to keep them from getting hurt or hurting others.  Even God disciplines us when we step out of line, but He never stops loving us.  His tears subsided, and he calmed down seeming to understand what I was telling him.

     As I recalled this precious time with my grandson, I got to thinking about the many times when I wondered if God could still love me after I had been disobedient.  I believe many of us have those moments of self doubt that rise up in our lives.  I've even heard people tell me that they could never return to church again because they had walked so far away from God that He would not want them back.  The Good News tells us that this is a lie from the devil.  We can be assured of God's unfailing love towards us.  Scripture confirms this in I John 3:19-24 (ESV):  "By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart; and He knows everything.  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him.  And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us.  Whoever keeps His commandments  abides in God and God in him. And by this we know He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."  I love the phrase "whenever our heart condemns us" because there are times when we feel like we have messed up or missed the boat.  Yet God has sealed us by His Spirit.  All we need to do is repent if we have sinned, and He welcomes us again with open arms (I John 1:9).

     God calls us to believe, love and obey Him.  This is the mark of true salvation according to this epistle.  By the Holy Spirit, we are sealed for rede
mption.  God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  We are secure in His love for He has chosen us from before the foundation of the world to be His children.  Jesus said in John 10:27-28:  " 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. " What a great promise for believers!  We do not lose our relationship with God when we sin.  However, like our grandson, we sometimes must face the consequences of our actions, but God does not cast us out.

     Resting in this assurance should give us great joy, and the Apostle John confirms it in his epistle.  How comforting for us when we have those times of self doubt and we ask if we are really saved!  Like Jesus, we can cry out "Abba Father" at any time.  May this encourage us all today as we meditate on this good word from the Lord!  Selah!

Preparing for a Great Meal

     Cooking a homemade meal has been something I have done on a regular basis.  I enjoy cooking and am following in the footsteps of my dear mother who also made home cooked dinners.  We did not have a lot of frozen dinners or fast food restaurants when I was growing up.  Living on a farm, we had a garden, an apple orchard and a nearby farmer's market that offered fresh sweet corn in the summer.  Yes, it takes some extra effort but the rewards are very satisfying in the end.  The same is true when we approach worship in church.  How do we do at setting the table of our heart to hear the Word of God?

     In preparing a meal, I set out the recipe and gather all the ingredients.  It saves time to prep what I need before the cooking process begins.  This is also true in getting ready for church.  Prayer is the best way to spend time before opening God's Word and reading the passage that will be preached that Sunday.  Thinking and meditating on Scripture, talking to the Lord and taking stock of our lives before coming into His presence clears out a lot of cobwebs before we cross the threshold of the sanctuary.  Our thoughts are more focused and our hearts are more ready to enter in to a time of holy worship.  

     Another important element in fixing a good meal is the process of combining the ingredients.  Once my preparation is done, I can begin to add in items as needed without having to race through the cupboard to find something.  Adding an ingredient at the right time leads to success in the outcome.  Have we ever thought about worship that way?  It is a process too.  We enter in each week  into the presence of God as a Body of believers in Jesus Christ to sing, lift up praise, and pray.  This is where our hearts come together in corporate worship.  Jesus said "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”  Just as I have to be careful to add the right ingredient at the right time in my process of cooking, we must have our minds present in what we are singing, praying and confessing before the Lord.  We all know it is possible to be present in the body but absent in the mind.  So when we enter into God's House, let us do so ready to fully engage our mind and spirit.

     Once my cooking is completed, I look forward to enjoying what has been prepared.  Most of us look forward to a meal but do we look forward to the sermon with as much expectation?  We should because it is the main course prepared by our pastor to feed the flock God has given into his care.  God speaks to us through His Word which is true.  Scripture itself tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16:  "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..."  Additionally Scripture can also work to show us areas of sin.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us:  "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  We need this meal....we cannot skip it for our souls need nourishment as much as our bodies.

     Church fellowship and attendance are just as important as eating a good meal every day.  Our body needs food to stay healthy, but our spiritual lives also need a good dose of God's Word in worship.  When we neglect eating at all, we can starve.  If we eat unhealthy, over processed foods, we run the risk of other health issues.  The same is true in church.  If we come unprepared to worship, we miss all the rich blessings set out on God's table.  Likewise, if we avoid attending worship, we will starve spiritually.  Our faith won't grow and we will be ripe picking for Satan who loves to attack a sheep out on his/her own.  

     Preparing a great meal isn't an accident.  It is intentional.  So is worship in our church meant to be done with care, respect and expectancy that we will meet with God.  We go to the table hungry in our homes and ready to eat good food.  Oh that we could learn to do the same each week as we prepare for and attend worship services.  God wants to commune with us that we might glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.  Therefore, lets take a look at our preparation, process  and readiness to dig in to the spiritual feast He has for us.  Selah!