The Holy Spirit, Your Mark

From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Galatians 6:17 (NKJV)

Abraham was deeply attached to Lot, to the point of taking him along when God asked him to leave his homeland. Despite his love and attachment to his nephew, Abraham had to part ways with him when disputes arose between their servants, as their herds were mingling in the same pastures. The situation was delicate for owners sharing the same grazing territory. To avoid such problems, they had to mark the hides of their animals so they could identify them. Each owner chose the specific mark his livestock would bear, thereby preventing future conflict.

You and I, having placed our faith in Christ and living under His authority, carry the Holy Spirit within us. He is the seal God has given us to distinguish us from those who still live under the total sway of His enemy. You have the Holy Spirit to guide you, to remind you of Jesus' teachings, to reveal the will of God's heart to you, and to convict you of sin when you fall. As God's seal within you, He will never allow the enemy to claim you simply because you have stumbled. Everyone falls, but only those who are in Christ rise again to walk in newness of life.

It was this same assurance that led Paul to convince the Christians in Galatia that it is not the Law that justifies them in God's eyes, but Christ—He who bore the cross for the forgiveness of their sins. He concluded by asking them not to cause him any more trouble, for he bore the mark of Jesus. You, too, bear this mark—the Holy Spirit—who will lead you into truth. Religion may impose conditions to determine whether or not you are spiritual, but God, who sees your heart, does not require rituals from you. So do not let anyone tell you anything other than the truth, for the Holy Spirit—your mark—will show you the right path, in accordance with God’s heart.

May the grace and peace of God be with you.