My first job in high school was working in a small department store in OKC called TG&Y. They had a buying option for customers that many of you may remember. It was called Layaway.
It allowed someone to purchase something without paying the full amount. Of course, you couldn’t take it home until it was completely paid for, but you’d place a down-payment on the item, and it would be held in storage for you. Then once a week, or a couple of times a month, you’d make another payment until it was finally paid for, and you’d get to take it home with you.
Very few stores still offer a layaway plan.
I liked layaway—except for one detail.
I didn’t enjoy waiting.
But I did appreciate the fact that the item would soon be mine once I had paid the full price. No one else could purchase it out from under me.
God has a layaway plan, too.
Sort of.
Once we surrender our lives to Him, God places His very own Spirit inside of us as sort of a down-payment. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean we have to wait and put money down before we get to enjoy a relationship with Christ.
It does mean that once we give ourselves to Him, God is giving us a sign (His Holy Spirit) that means we now belong to Him and can expect much more.
Check this out:
”He has put his brand upon us—his mark of ownership—and
given us his Holy Spirit in our hearts as guarantee that we belong to
him and as the first installment of all that he is going to give us.”
(2 Corinthians 1:22 LB).
Don’t you love the fact that we don’t have to pay for His Holy Spirit? God makes the deposit Himself. And He places His Spirit right smack inside of us!
We can begin enjoying intimacy with our heavenly Father immediately. We don’t have to wait. And the Holy Spirit is God’s deposit, sign, promise, vow, that there’s way more to come!
Someday we’ll actually be with Him.
And He’ll give us perfect wisdom, understanding and knowledge.
We’ll enjoy perfect bodies with no sickness.
No tears.
No arguments.
No pain.
Total joy.
“Praise the Lord . . . He has kept all the generous promises he
made.
(1 Kings 8:56)
I’m praising God for the deposit of His Holy Spirit assuring me there’s more to come
than I can even imagine!
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Thoughts?
Again, I want to thank you for your prayers during this time of Covid-19. I received a
cancelation on a speaking event that was scheduled in August, and one I have on the calendar for
September may cancel as well. Though most churches are open, many are still hesitant to hold
something special such as a revival or Spiritual Renewal Weekend.
Your prayers are the best gift in the world you can give me!
I LOVE opening God’s Word and speaking it to groups of people . . . so you can imagine how I’m chomping at the bit. I do have some engagements that haven’t canceled and have said they will remain on the fall calendar. I’m grateful for that!
If God leads you to make a financial donation to the ministry He has entrusted me, you can send a check to Susie Shellenberger Ministries, 7012 N. Lake Front Drive, Warr Acres, OK 73132 and I’ll mail you a tax donation receipt, because I’m a 501-C3 non-profit. But don’t take away from your church giving to do this. And remember: The best gift you can give me is to pray!
Love,
Susie
