I worked for a large corporation in the automotive industry.

We were allowed to wear t-shirts with the company logo on them. This gave us a sense of company ownership.

On our five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, and thirty-year anniversaries, the company gave us gifts. This gave us a sense of pride and promoted good a sense of belonging to an elite group of people.

Upon our retirement, we received a pension. This, added to our Social Security, helps employees to live a comfortable life.

In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Paul mentions two gifts God gives us when we become believers: a seal of ownership that shows who our Master is and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guarantees that we belong to God and will receive all His benefits.

We are guaranteed that salvation begins the moment we believe. When Christ returns, we will be given so much more. The Holy Spirit is a down payment, or deposit, of the benefits of our eternal life in God’s presence.

We have the responsibility to identify as God’s faithful servants. We should never be ashamed to let others know that we are His. Letting others know we belong to God, through the power of His grace, given to us through Jesus Christ, helps us to develop a permanent, eternal relationship with God.