13In him you also, when you heard the work of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit… Ephesians 1:13
In antiquity, kings and rulers and people in authority often used a stamp or ring with a raised design to make an impression in clay or wax to signify their ownership of various things or their approval of a document. This seal secured the document and served as the personal insignia of the one in authority.
Throughout the Bible, there are various types of seals. God sealed Cain by putting a mark on his forehead to protect him. (Gen. 4:15) The people of Israel were circumcised as a sign (seal) to demonstrate their status as God’s chosen people. (Gen. 17) Pilate sealed Jesus’ tomb to secure it and to prevent anyone from breaking in to steal the body of Jesus. Revelation speaks to the breaking the seal of the scroll by the Lion of Judah. (Rev. 5)
One of the more intriguing examples of seals occurs in Ezekiel 9 where the God of Israel reveals to Ezekiel in a vision that he will “put a mark on the foreheads of the men” who have contrite hearts and who grieve over the abominations that are being committed.
We, too, have received the personal seal of our heavenly King, Jesus Christ. In our baptism, we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit and we “receive the sign of the holy cross both upon our forehead and upon our heart to mark us as redeemed by Christ the crucified.” (LSB) All believers are sealed by the personal insignia of our One True Authority and King. Oh what comfort that thought gives! We belong to Jesus!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have marked us with your personal seal to claim us as your own children and to protect us until you bring us safely home to heaven. Amen
Contributed by Susan Hathcock