Thursday, March 4, 2010

We are sealed

For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called;  those He called, He also justified;  those He justified, He also glorified. What then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:29-32

I read this portion of scripture some weeks ago and found it astounding. I remember thinking on it for a while and almost finding it hard to comprehend how God could do such a thing. My husband brought it to my attention again yesterday as he was thinking on it and all those feelings came rushing back again and even more.

When I look at the complete work that God has done through His son Jesus for us, I am truly amazed. These verses make me think of being sealed or sealing something. As a child growing up I lived with my grandmother and my mother lived in London (still does). In those days when a parcel or so came for you, it was brought directly to your house and you didn't have to open it in front of the officers at the port or so like you had to in later days. When my mother sent a parcel she really sealed it. It would be taped down over and over. They usually came by ship so it took a couple weeks before we got it, but she wanted to make sure that whatever tossing there was nothing could happen to that parcel. Sometimes it was a little dirty I guess from the tumbling or the storage but it was always intact because she made sure and sealed it really well. We even struggled to open them sometimes because she did a very good job securing what she sent.

2 Cor1:21 & 22 says Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ, He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, gurarantee-ing what is to come.
Before the Creation of the world we were chosen in Him (Eph.1:4). We were not afterthoughts nor were we random selections or quick picks.

God foreknew us. He knew that you and I would be unfaithful to Him many times. He knew that our hearts would turn away when life got too tough. He knew how often we would promise to serve Him but then go back on that promise. He foreknew us but yet He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His son.
O God you knew what I would be like and predestined me to be shaped in to the image of Your Son Jesus? How gracious are You Lord?

He could see way ahead to this day and time and still He didn't just predestined me, He called me. He called me. He knocked on my heart's door when I wasn't looking for Him nor was I thinking about Him. He reached down when I was lonely and lovingly drew me nigh. When I couldn't go to where He was because of the gulf of sin, He came to me. He came to you and I.

As if that wasn't enough, He didn't just call us, He justified us. With the precious blood of His son Jesus he announced to the world that nothing they did or said about you and I meant anything in His eyes. To Him it was just as if we had never sinned, because He only saw the blood on the door post of our heart.
O my Lord and Savior there's nothing I could do that could ever merit Your Love for me.

You not only called and justified me, but You glorified me. You raised me up out of the dung hill. You took me out of the miry clay, and in spite of all that you knew about me You glorified me.
Friends He didn't wait to see how I would perform, He sealed me with His love right from the start. Notice that the word is all in the past tense. He's already done it. We are already sealed unto the day of redemption (Eph.4:30).
This was not a plan that God formulated as time went on, this was God's plan before the beginning of time to last through time and eternity.

"What then shall we say in response to these things?" Paul asks in verse 31. All I can say is "hallelujah!"
My heart is so overwhelmed at the love of God. The voices of a million angels could never ever express my gratitude to Him.

 "If God is for us - how could we question it, after He predestined us, He called us, He justified us and He glorified us - who can be against us?" The enemy can come after us and he does with all his demonic forces, but we are sealed. All the tossing and tumbling and all that he throws at us cannot ultimately prevail because we are sealed unto the day of redemption. God is for us. No weapon that's formed against us will prosper. We are safe in His Hands.

Thank you Jesus. May my heart always be tender before You. May I never ever take Your love for granted.
I pray for those who read this post, that their hearts be encouraged today as they see with new eyes the love that You have for them. In Jesus name, Amen.

blessings,
Vickie

10 comments:

Amydeanne said...

Vicki, you are such a great mentor. I am so encouraged by your posts when I visit. Thank-you for taking the time out and writing them!

Runner Mom said...

This is beautiful, Vickie!I loved the story of your mom's packages being sealed so tightly. Those scriptures really touched my heart. I love hearing waht my bloggy friends are studying in the Word!

So, how far have y'all gotten in your journey to choosing a college? Have you visited any yet? Would love to hear your adventures and advice!!

Hugs!
Susan
PS--Thanks for the b'day wishes for Craig! We had lunch together and it was fun!

Raymonde said...

Vickie, great post.
I am so glad we have met through blogland!
Your mum's parcels reminded me of parcels my Dad used to send, they were tightly sealed!
Glad I could post some photos of London the other day and that you enjoyed them. Take care.
Be blessed! xxx
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Anonymous said...

Hi Vickie. If your mom's parcel were well sealed...I dare to imagine at what scale is our sealing by the HOLY SPIRIT. I am glad we are SEALED because when the enemy comes near, he sees the LABEL that we are taken...and taken for eternity.

What a revelation! God is good.

Blessings,

Gladwell

Ginny said...

What a marvelous teaching! Thank you so much for visiting my blog. You kinow, when I first started blogging, I felt a bit intimidated by all the crafty, talented women out there and I felt that I was not good enough to attract people to my blog. However, I kind of switched my writing and thinking to what is important in my life, my God, my family, and my church. I told myself that if no one visited, then so be it. I believe we live in a godless society, and not too many people out there are interested in faith matters. But there are those, like yourself, who do and for those people I give thanks and praise to God for sending my way! God bless you, ginny

Lelia Chealey said...

I loved this Vickie...very needed!
Thank you!

Yolanda said...

Vickie,

This tendered my heart so much:

he announced to the world that nothing they did or said about you and I meant anything in His eyes. To Him it was just as if we had never sinned, because He only saw the blood on the door post of our heart.


Thank You Abba!!

Love to you,
Yolanda

PS: What an interesting story about your Mom. THANK YOU for sharing this with us.

Deidra said...

All of it...the grace the faith...is a gift. Praise God!

Terri Tiffany said...

You mean alot to me along with your words. I always appreciate your encouragement and wanted you to know that I will be praying for you as well! Thank you for the support you give--one of these days all this too shall be behind us! How is school going?

lioneagle said...

Greetings -

I love this piece. It is indeed encouragement and a precious reminder that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

Thank you, Vickie, for this...