Lent Day 24

Ephesians 1:13-14

When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,

the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance

until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—

to the praise of his glory.

When we believe in Christ and His sacrifice and resurrection, we are marked with a seal that guarantees our inheritance of an eternal life in His kingdom.  To be marked with a seal means you are separated and set apart for God, you are marked as belonging to Him.   This seal protects and preserves us as Christians until we reach our inheritance in the kingdom of God.  This seal is a guarantee of our inheritance, a guarantee to us that God will fulfill His promise to receive us into His kingdom. 

That seal is the promised Holy Spirit.  The promise of the Holy Spirit is a gift graciously given to us by God, not something we can negotiate with Him to receive, not something we can receive from anyone else other than God.  There is one way to receive it and that is by believing in Christ.  When we believe, we are promised by God to be saved (Romans 10:9).   That promise is guaranteed by the gift of the Holy Spirit, who acts as a deposit to us that God will indeed, do what He promised.

So the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives proves we are children of God and gives us the security of eternal life.  It is the guarantee we are saved and demonstrates the genuineness of our faith.   If we are questioning our salvation, all we have to do is look for signs of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  If He is present, we are saved for God does not give us the Holy Spirit until we believe and God does not go back on a promise.  Some signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives include when He reminds us of Scripture, convicts us of sin, retrains us from selfish behavior or prompts us to love one another.  When we know what He does and how He acts in our lives, we realize the truth of God's word and grow confident in our salvation. 

Pay attention today for signs of the Holy Spirit in your life and thank God for the promise He has given you.

Peace and Love,

LeAnn