Jeri's Journal

Here I am baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)
Here I am baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)

The popular Stevie Wonder tune is the story of a contrite sweetheart—returning after a long parting—seeking forgiveness, and expressing his desire to recommit. The song came to my mind as I was reading about seals in Scripture. Picture a document of great import. It is a decree from the king himself. He takes the document from his scribe, rolls it up and lifts the deep red candle from its holder. The flame flickers as he tilts the candle just enough to allow the hot wax to drip down onto the curved outer edge. Removing his ornate gold ring, he stamps his unique imprint and seal of authority into the wax, signifying his approval of the order. The stamp is proof of the king’s endorsement. It bears witness to the recipient that herein are the words given by the king, himself.

As believers we are also sealed—by the King of Kings:

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having 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. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

How awesome to know that as believers we are sealed by God Himself! The Holy Spirit indwelling us is proof that we belong to Him, and is our assurance that His promise of redemption will one day become a reality to us! The metaphor doesn’t end there, though. The seal is the King’s official mark, so what is written inside must be very important, The Apostle Paul calls the Corinthian believers “letters,” which were written on his heart. Furthermore, he suggested that the lives they lived in obedience to the Lord were in essence, his letter of recommendation as an Apostle. He goes on to state the following: “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3)

We do well to ask ourselves, “What does my letter proclaim to those who read it?” In Ephesians 4, verse 30, we read, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Think about it: God’s seal is upon us. Are our lives bearing witness to the One who has sealed us, or are our choices and actions telling a different story? How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? Interestingly, verse 30 is sandwiched in-between various principles of behavior that should govern our lives as believers:

Ephesians 4:17-5:21

That’s a lot to digest, isn’t it? If you find these things overwhelming, take heart! Remember that these qualities reflect who God is. It’s not about following all the rules in our own strength, but rather, about the strength that comes from walking in Christ. It’s not about enslavement to the law, but about freedom: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” There is no better day than today to refocus on what is really important. There is no better time like now—so sing with me a little song of surrender:

Here I am Jesus
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)
Here I am Jesus
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)

All Scriptures NIV