Marked

October 30

Marked for Christ. That sounds reminiscent of what was done to slaves in a by-gone era when one man’s servitude to another was accepted as a reasonable and common practice; it does not resonate to the modern ear. We know that some forms of slavery still exist, but those kinds of bondage do not include physically marking the slave.

Some today may be slaves to their employment, sacrificing many hours each day beyond those spent in the office. Some people are slaves to fashion, squandering their substance upon the latest designer offering. Some are slaves to passion, selling their souls for a moment of guilty pleasure.

None of these leave a mark—except upon the heart of the slave. And that’s where Jesus places His mark. He puts it there, upon the heart of the sinner, thereby covering forever the cruel impression that sin stamped upon the un-surrendered heart of the one who cut innocence and peace out of his life every time he embraced sin to himself.

But Ephesians 1:13 tells us that, “You 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.” His mark, the Holy Spirit, does not inflict a scar! His Spirit brings power to pull down destructive strongholds, to erase every scar left by sin!