You’ve no doubt seen those commercials on TV advertising something at a greatly discounted price; and

just when the commercial seems to be ending, you hear the words, “But wait!” and the deal gets even

better. Well… it’s kinda that way with our spiritual blessings. Just when you think you are blessed

beyond belief, you hear the words, “But wait!” -- and the blessings keep coming!

… having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our

inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians

1:13-14)

This passage combines two more important blessings:

7 – We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. This is the Holy Spirit that Jesus described to His

disciples: “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you

forever – the Spirit of truth... He dwells with you and will be in you… He will teach you all things and

bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14 :15-17, 26). The Holy Spirit is a person

and a promise kept – one of many ways Jesus kept His promise to never leave us or forsake us. This

same Holy Spirit helps us as we read God’s Word – helping us learn and understand the truth, helping us

remember and live the truth.

8 – The Holy Spirit is a guarantee of our inheritance. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these

are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit

of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba. Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that

we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ… (Romans

8:14-17).

Most of us reading this devotion won’t inherit vast sums of money from our relatives, but we do inherit

some of the family traits. In the same way, our inheritance as joint heirs with Christ probably won’t

result in enormous wealth in the world’s viewpoint; but we have inherited something much more

important: a family resemblance. Can you think of a sweeter compliment than to hear someone say: You

are so much like your Father?



By Judy Shrout

Judy is the wife of Tom, mother of Heather, mother-in-law of Jim, grandmom to T.J., Ainsley, and

Maggie, and grandmother-in-law to Piper.