The Mark of God

"Do not sadden the Holy Spirit of God which you were marked with. It will be your distinctive mark on the day of salvation." - Ephesians 4:30

I just got engaged on New Year's and as I look at my ring, it's amazing how much it symbolizes. It represents a promise of love, commitment, fidelity and a number of other things. Now imagine if with every argument my boyfriend and I had, my ring would slowly chip away. How delicate the ring would be if our love and comprehension were what it depended on. This is the Holy Spirit in our lives. By being followers of Jesus Christ, we are marked by the Holy Spirit of God. The very life and power of God is in us as His promise of love, commitment, and fidelity to each and every one of us. The bible compares God's love for us as a marriage over and over again and the Holy Spirit residing in us is the sign of the commitment. But you can't take this gift for granted because unlike the ring, it does fade and can leave you. Anger, hate, betrayals, bitterness, gossip, all these things sadden the Holy Spirit because He cannot exist in the same soul as these evils. Allowing these things into your life slowly destroys you until God can no long dwell or work within you. This might be the reason why some people who have let sin constantly seep in have trouble finding God when they need Him; His Holy Spirit is dead within them.

The Holy Spirit is a treasure for you to take care of. He is how God functions in you. Watch what you say, do, think so that everything can be in accordance with what pleases God. The Holy Spirit within you is the mark God has given you to show the world you belong to Him.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You promised to send us the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us, please help us nurture this Spirit so we are always pleasing to You. Make clear to us what we should and shouldn't do so that You can dwell in us forever. In Your Name we pray, amen.