NOT A PROBATIONER
John [ESV] 6:27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but
for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to
you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."
2Corinthians 1:19-22
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and
Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. Certainly, Christ made God's many promises
come true. For that reason, because of our message, people also honor God by
saying, "Amen!" God establishes us, together with you, in a
relationship with Christ. He has also anointed us. In addition, he has put his
seal of ownership on us and has given us the Spirit as his guarantee.
Beginning on
October 13, 1955 I worked for the same company for nearly 43 years. As with
other new employees I was on probation for 2 years. We could be dismissed
during that period “without given cause” (explanation). In the last half of
1964 this rule was lowered to 6 months and the cause clause was altered. I
never feared dismissal but nonetheless knew in the nether land of my mind that
I wasn’t secure. Though not emotional occasions or worry producing for me, I
did see dismissals of probationary coworkers. My 731st day felt
good.
In the service of
the Lord there is not any probation period. From our first moment of personally
accepting and trusting Him we are fully secure.
Ephesians 1:11-14;
4:30 In him we have obtained an
inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works
all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first
to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 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. … And
do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption.
2Timothy 2:15-19 Do your best to present yourself to God as
one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word
of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and
more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are
Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the
resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But
God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who
are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart
from iniquity."
Old timers, of
which I am undoubtedly one, refer to His seal as blessed assurance, a wonderful
relaxed state of knowing one’s permanent place in the love of God. We, as
followers of Christ, are not probationers!
EBB4 Thursday,
April 12, 2018
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