In the ancient world the seal was of great importance.  When making a seal - a special ring would be used to make an impression on melted wax.  When a thing was sealed it provided:

1- Identification of the Authority of he who left the mark

2 - It showed Possession of the thing or document which was sealed

3 - A seal also authenticated the contents as being genuine.

4 - Protection was also clear as the improper breaking of the seal meant incurring the full legal wrath of the one whose seal was broken

Two seals in scripture are worth noticing:

First, Pilate had Jesus Tomb Sealed to keep Jesus body in the Grave – this Seal was broken based upon the Higher authority of God almighty.

Second: in the Revelation 5 John weeps because no one is able to open the 7-sealed scroll which contains the plan of God.  Jesus then takes the scene and is, alone, qualified to open that which God has sealed.

This gives great insight to Ephesians 1:13 which tells us:

In Him (Jesus) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…

Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16 tells us:

   I say then: Walk in the Spirit,
   and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

The word “walk” translates the Greek peripateo which combines the word for pateo “walk” with the word peri “about or around” – in scripture it is a metaphor for the basic actions of our day to day lives.  Our moment by moment lives are meant to be conducted “in the Spirit”  This means that Christians are meant to be in moment by moment reliance upon the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.

THEN, we are told, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh – or the sin nature.

It is a common Christian error to think that if we don’t sin THEN we will be Spiritual.  But Scripture reveals the opposite order to be the case.  It is only when we are fully relying upon the Holy Spirit alone that we are free from the control of our sin nature. 

The often-overlooked book of Habakkuk has a message of relevance for God’s saints today.

Habakkuk was a prophet to the Kingdom of Judah before Jerusalem fell to Babylon.  In the first chapter, Habakkuk lays a question before God: "How can our righteous God allow so much evil and injustice in Israel – Why doesn’t God seem to be doing anything about it?"

God responds, telling Habakkuk that Judgment is coming in the form of the Babylonian army – which will brutally conquer the land of Judah.   This only brings MORE problems for Habakkuk!  How could God use an unrighteous PAGAN nation to discipline the errors of Israel?  

God then assures Habakkuk that Babylon would also be punished for their avarice and arrogance.

The final section of this book is a prayer of submission and praise ending with the powerful words:

     “The LORD God is my strength;
       He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
       And He will make me walk on my high hills.” Habakkuk 3:19

God may use surprising situations to bring about His will.  May we all, like Habakkuk – Question with humility and respond with Praise.

A Permenantly Placed Child of God

In Ephesians 3:1-14 we are given amazing insight into the position and possessions of every believer in Jesus Christ as we are identified with Christ.  Verse 5 tells us:

…having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…

Today, the word “adoption” may bring to mind the image of babies taken into families into which they were not physically born, but that is not what Paul had in mind.

The word υἱοθεσία could be translated as “placing a son” and it was a process for an adult who was being officially placed within the family.  The “placed” son was given all the rights of an heir and a complete removal of his previous legal identity, including all debts which were held against him.

Not only this, the “placed son” was given access to the family accounts and the authority to represent the family legally.  Once this process took place the effects were permanent, and even the birth of a legitimate heir could not abrogate the rights of the adopted – or legally placed – son.

All this was given wholly by God’s amazing Grace.

The Lord is One

Deuteronomy 6:4 contains the famous Hebrew prayer known as the Shema.

In English, it reads:

4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!

In Hebrew, this verse is read:

"Shema Yisrael Adoniai Elohainu, Adonai Echad."

The word Echad is the word translated as “one."  This is the profound declaration of Biblical monotheism.  But the word “echad” has some very special meaning for us to discover.

The word “echad” is used in Scripture to describe something of many parts that come together to form one complete unit. We see this in Genesis 2:24 when God creates the man and the woman and it is declared:

     Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
     and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

This verse speaks of two separate people coming together to be ONE flesh.  In the Shema, God reveals something very special about His nature.  From the rest of Scripture, we know the three persons of this Divine Unity to be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Behold  - The Lord your God, The Lord is one.