God has chosen us even before we came to be to live eternally in His presence. The wonderful gift of grace that God has poured into our hearts is only a fraction of the glory we will receive in His presence. How do we know this? The Spirit that we have received is the seal of God's promise in which we can place our complete trust. Christian living is spiritually empowered, but it is necessary to consciously remain in the Spirit for it be effective for us.

It is not always easy to stand up for what is right or to witness to our faith. Often we give our unspoken consent to injustice through our silence. Though most of us will probably not face physical persecution or violence for our faith we can still pay a price. The fear of ridicule and rejection can be a powerful negative force and can virtually paralyze us. Luke reassures us: we have infinite worth and are esteemed in God's eyes. We should not fear those who can do us physical harm - after all, we are in God's hands. Whatever is true, holy, and right should be proclaimed from the rooftops - it cannot remain suppressed for very long. Our willingness to speak openly and fearlessly is one way of showing that the Word of God has filled our hearts and begun the work of transformation. It is not about ranting or speaking aggressively, but voicing the words that the Spirit of God puts in our hearts.