7/29/13:

TFTD: “He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us in God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Back in the olden days a seal was a big deal. No not the animal. A seal on a letter or an official document that said this is official because I have marked it with this noticeable mark. Now fast forward about a thousand years and think of what kind of seals or marks are around and how important they are. There are tattoos that tell us we are a part of a group. There are homes and cars that show that we are in the financially wealthy group. There are music genres that put us into groups like hipster or folk. But do any of these groups or seals have any real meaning? Do they actually label us as something important? It may appear that way but there is one category that we get lumped into as humans here on this earth regardless of wealth, health, tattoos, music, or whatever you get labeled as. That is sinful. We have this label of sinful that penetrates our entire lives because it started from the beginning. We were born sinful, live sinful, and die sinful. Here’s the kicker. Paul lays it on us and tells us that we have this Spirit in our hearts. We have been sealed and marked with the mark of eternity. Christ’s mark of redemption and grace. A mark that lets us  live forgiven, and die forgiven. It reminds us that we are a chosen priesthood and a nation belonging to God. This mark is a noticeable one. It can be seen by all including the devil. It is the seal of unmistakable, undeniable, remarkable love and sacrifice that has been placed on all of us. It’s the seal of Life.

“It’s not what you know; it’s what you use that makes a difference.”- Zig Ziglar