Established, Anointed, and Sealed
Making and keeping promises are core components of our human relationships and societal structure, yet we live in a culture that emphasizes individualism over commitment. Trust and accountability often seem nonexistent. Some of us find it difficult to make and keep promises, while others live in fear and pain of being disappointed or wounded by a promise-breaker. All of us have been impacted by broken promises, from an inconvenience to a deep wound. Perhaps even now as you read these words, that wound is oozing. Turn to the Great Promise-Keeper and hear these life-giving words.
“All the promises,” everyone, “God has made are Yes in Christ.” The Apostle Paul reminded this struggling church that the history of God’s dealings with His people and the promises He made them have been fulfilled in and through Jesus. From the very first promise of a seed that would crush the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15), Jesus accomplishes and affirms all that God has promised. Because of Jesus, God is our God, and we are His people. God’s covenantal promise is sure and certain, not yes and no, inconsistent and uncertain. We can bank our lives on all that God has said.
So we utter, “Amen!” declaring our agreement and trust in our faithful and steadfast God. As we testify that we believe Him and trust His Word, He is glorified. We anchor our hearts in the God that He is and are buoyed up when we grow weary.
But Paul didn’t stop there. God’s people are reminded that we are established together in Christ, anointed by Him, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Notice God does the work, not us. This turns our attention off ourselves and onto Him. He gives us our sure footing in Christ and His Spirit, who is the covenantal promise of His presence with us and a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Being anointed implies royalty, daughters of the King, heirs with Christ, to one day inherit and rule over the world with Him. The Spirit is a gift because He testifies with our spirits that we belong to Him and is the “first installment” of our full redemption at Christ’s return.
Don’t miss the plurality of the first-person pronoun, “us,” in these declarations. Together, God is strengthening and confirming us, and we can be sure He will sustain us to the end.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Many times, in life and ministry, we feel insecure, unstable, or uncertain. We often feel wounded by broken promises. Knowing that we are established in Christ by God and sealed and anointed by His Spirit grounds and stabilizes us as we move forward with hope and confidence. His sure and steadfast promises are ours, and His presence with us is our guarantee. Every promise God has made has been fulfilled in our Savior. And so, we say, “Amen to God for His glory.”
PRAYER
Father, thank You for all Your promises that find their Yes in Jesus. Help us to trust Your Word and steadfast love. Thank You for establishing us in Christ, anointing us, and sealing us with Your Spirit. Give us grace to always utter “Amen” to God for His glory. In Jesus' name, amen.
2 Corinthians: Confident and Compelled - A Study on 2 Corinthians - No Empty Word Series by Paula Miles
Paula Miles is wife to Kevin, a ruling elder at Clemson Presbyterian, and mother of Wimberly Johnson (married to Charlie), Janie Gotfredson (married to Duncan), Clary (married to Elli), and Judy Livingston (married to Evan). She is also a grandmother to six precious little ones. Paula grew up in Anderson, SC, and graduated from Clemson University. She has experienced the joy of being a full-time homemaker and public school teacher. Studying and teaching God’s Word is her passion, along with encouraging and equipping women as they walk with Jesus. Since 2014, Paula has served on staff at Clemson Presbyterian as Women’s Ministry Director. She is a conference and retreat speaker, an author of the No Empty Word Bible studies, and serves on the PCA's Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry Team as a trainer. She enjoys regular exercise, a good cup of coffee, watching sporting events, and investing in the lives of her family and friends.
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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.
