God’s Got It

March 18, 2018

The English is old, but the message is as up to date as tomorrow’s news. It’s from the daily devotional Linda and I use:

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep. — The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, “The Lord knows them that are his.” And, “Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him...

After you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance. — Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

Life has a way of cutting us down to size. Disappointment, difficulties, catastrophes of all sorts are sure to come our way. Being a child of God offers no exemption from heartache, no “Get Out of Jail Free” card as we navigate the board of life. At times, it’s hard to avoid wondering what God is up to, or if for some reason he has abandoned us. 

One of the most difficult life lessons is that our feelings lie to us. Feeling abandoned is very different from actually being abandoned. Feeling defeated doesn’t mean we are defeated. One of the most important lessons is that our experience of God is not the same as the God of our experience. My experience of God is always somewhat less than all he is. And the Bible tells us that he holds us securely—no one can pluck us out of his hand. 

In the Scripture quoted above, God does four things: he establishes us in Christ, anoints us, sealed us, and given us the earnest, or downpayment of the Holy Spirit. If I establish a business or ministry, I own it; it’s my dream child; it belongs to me. In Bible times, anointing was the sign of being specially chosen for divine purposes. In Bible times, the seal was a sign of ownership and authority. The earnest, or downpayment is just what a downpayment is today—a commitment to greater things to come.

All of this God has given us in Jesus Christ. No matter what I may or may not feel, God has acted on our behalf, and continues to do so. We may not always understand or like what life brings, but we can trust the One who brings it to us. For that, I am grateful tonight.