Wednesday, June 5, 2024 –Ephesians 1:13-14 – We Have God’s Mark Upon Us
Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14
“13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:13-14 (New International Version)
Jesus didn’t just give His life for us; He gave His life to us. Wait a minute…Didn’t we read earlier (verses 5 & 11) that God predestined us and chose use before the foundation of the world? But it says here that we are also to believe the gospel. How can we be both predestined and have a part to play?
God has given us His Spirit. In fact, in other translations, it says that the Spirit is given as a down payment. The idea is that you put a down payment on something you want to eventually own (e.g., a house, an RV, a car). What you’re saying is, “I’m putting money down to say that one day I will pay enough money to own this.” And God is saying, “When I gave you my Spirit – when you believed in the gospel, when you trusted in Jesus – I gave a down payment and I have you, but one day I will totally have you.” And this is a promise to us that one day God is going to totally and completely have us with Him for all of eternity.
This is a taste of heaven. No more pain, no more suffering, no more sickness. Not having all of that is awesome, but here’s the great thing about heaven: God! You’re going to see God, and not only are you going to see Him, but He is going to be glorified, which means that we are going to be completely filled with joy. That’s the way that we will live and it’s the way that we can live right now – not perfectly, like in heaven, but you can taste it, because you have God’s mark upon you, and His Spirit is living in you.
Prayer:
Abba, Father…I thank you that you didn’t only give your life for me, but you gave it to me. I thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to be my helper and my guide. I thank you for where you have guided me thus far, and I pray that you would continue to guide me closer and closer to you. Lord, when I am truly spending time with you and soaking in your presence, I can get a glimpse of what heaven will be like. Thank you for the price you paid for me so that I can experience heaven both here on earth, and in eternity when my time on this earth comes to an end.
In Jesus’ most Holy name I pray, amen.
