"Sealed"

I was sitting with my daughter in our pastor's office. She had approached me a few weeks back about wanting to be baptized. I'd talked with her about it, and told her the next step was to talk with the pastor. We wanted to be sure, she fully understood what she was requesting.

There we sat, the two of them talking, and me, a very privileged fly on the wall. She shared her conviction and her understanding of the meaning of baptism. He explained words like "sanctification", and described the "picture" of baptism.

Then, he read from Ephesians. Chapter 1, verses 13-14. He explained to her the concept of being "sealed", and used an envelope and a letter as an illustration.

That image struck me and has stuck with me. Me, a letter, sealed in an envelope, addressed to God. No stamp required. Instead, hearing and believing. Confessing and proclaiming.

Special delivery. Addressed to no one but God Himself.

I like that.



Ephesians 1:13-14

13 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, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.