“And because of what Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had been promised to all of us Christians. His presence within us is God’s guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised; and the Spirit’s seal upon us means that God has already purchased us and that he guarantees to bring us to himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.” (Ephesians 1:13–14 TLB)

 

In biblical times, when goods were shipped from one place to another, they were stamped with a waxed seal and imprinted with a signet ring bearing a unique mark of ownership. Important royal documents were sealed in wax and imprinted with the royal seal. No one other than the intended recipients would dare open them.

That’s the context for the apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 1:13–14. The Holy Spirit seals us. That means God has put His imprint on the lives of all believers.

So, the devil comes along, ready to ruin a life—until he sees the imprint that reads, “Property of the Lord Jesus Christ.” And suddenly his options are limited. There’s only so much he can do to someone who’s been sealed with the Holy Spirit.

You’ll also notice that Paul says the Holy Spirit’s “presence within us is God’s guarantee” (Ephesians 1:14 TLB). The Holy Spirit’s presence in our life guarantees our inheritance until we actually claim it. Think of it in terms of a deposit.

Let’s say you want to buy a car. You find the model you want to buy. To get it, you must put down a deposit. A deposit is a show of good faith—evidence that your intent to buy is real.

Now let’s look at it in terms of salvation. God says, “Because you believe, you will go to Heaven when you die.”

You say, “Well, that’s great. But it’s hard to fully grasp.”

So, God says, “I want you to know that I’m serious, so I’m going to give you the Holy Spirit as a down payment guaranteeing your inheritance.”

It’s called proof. We all want proof that God is at work in our lives. It’s great if someone else has proof, but we all want personal proof to know that God is working in us.

If you’ve received Christ as Savior and Lord, God has placed the Holy Spirit in your life. Has your life changed for the better since you began your personal relationship with Christ? Do you sense the Holy Spirit’s presence in you, giving you strength that you never had before? Do you have a peace in your life that you’ve never known before? If so, you have proof that God’s Holy Spirit is at work in your life. And you have assurance that your inheritance is waiting.

 

Reflection question: What proof do you see that God is at work in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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