June 3

And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, — Eph 1:13 BSB

Sealing comes after believing—“In whom after you believed, you were sealed.” In legal documents, the writing always comes before the sealing. Sealing is the final act, even after the signing, and it puts an attesting stamp on the whole document, from the first word to the last signature. So it is in grace. The Spirit begins the work, writing the first lines of divine truth on the soul. He makes the first impression on the heart of stone, turning it into a heart of flesh. He writes every truth He reveals on the fleshy tables of the heart. In this way, He gives faith and hope, and then He comes with His special inward witness, sealing the truth and reality of His own work. This not only makes the work plain and clear but also confirms it, removing all doubt, fear, or dispute—whether from ourselves or others.

Sometimes, the work of God on the soul can seem to lie dormant, almost as if dead. Little prayer goes up, and little answer comes down. Doubts and fears begin to rise, and we start to wonder if the work is even genuine. A sense of bondage and darkness gathers over the mind like a heavy cloud, obscuring the handwriting of God’s hand. But then the blessed Spirit revives His work. Maybe it’s through the application of a particular word with power, or by softening and melting the hard heart through His divine influence. Sometimes it’s through a fresh spirit of prayer or a new glimpse of the gracious Lord. Faith is strengthened, hope is revived, and love is drawn out. In these moments, the Spirit seals His own work, stamping it as genuine.

Under the sweetness and blessedness of this sealing, many a poor child of God can look back and see the testimonies of God in their life—Ebenezers, moments of deliverance, special blessings, answers to prayer, times of deep communion. These experiences, which were nearly lost in a sea of unbelief and confusion, are brought back to mind. Especially when the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children, shedding abroad God’s love in our hearts, and giving us the Spirit of adoption, allowing us to cry, “Abba, Father”—this is when His sealing becomes clear and complete.