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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Marked with a seal” A seal is a stamp or engraving made with metal or stone. It is a symbol or a figure that was used to make an impression on wax or other soft substances. It was usually attached to an object like a possession or a document, in  order to give it authenticity ownership or authority.  Marked with a seal means we are God’s possession therefore we have been marked or identified with His unique seal. We shall reflect on the fact that to be declared the property of God, a believer must be marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit.

Paul used the concept of marking a document with a seal to explain God’s ownership over those who are saved through Jesus Chris and have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritually, the Holy Spirit is God’s seal of authenticity or symbol of ownership that set the believer apart from the world or makes him or her unique. The seal of the Holy Spirit gives the believer who has been saved a new identity and guarantees his or her of eternal life. Paul explained to the Ephesians that “In him (Jesus Christ) you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14). In other words, to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, a believer must be marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit. It was for this reason, Peter filled with the Holy Spirit quoted the Propet Joel saying, “‘… in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Acts 2:14,21). Dear friend, we must yearn and desire for the seal of the Holy Spirit in our lives so that we can follow the perfect will of God and be found ready for the eternal life when Jesus returns the second time. We are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit so that we shall possess and bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit in readiness for the eternal life. We are greatly admonished by Paul when he wrote “… I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:16-23). May we be filled with the Holy Spirit!

In summary, we have reflected on the theme,”Marked with a seal” We have discovered that the Holy Spirit is the seal of ownership inscribed on a believer by God to guarantee his or her salvation through Jesus Christ. Shalom.

PRAYER

Almighty God may You set your seal upon us and enable us to always manifest the seal and fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives as an assurance of our salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.