"Branded"

They shipped in from all over,

Hard yearlings one and all,

Received ‘em at the home place,

Every year in fall.

Eight hundred to a thousand,

Most showed a crossbred ear,

Many came from Florida,

We grazed ‘em for a year.

Worked ‘em and laid on the brand,

Put it on the left side hip,

Called the running MC,

Through the chute on every trip.

Fast forward several decades,

And now that same old brand,

Is registered here in Texas,

And you’ll see it on our land,

Both on horses and on cattle,

Shows the ones we own,

And I will tell you something,

I’m thankful that it’s shown.

And when I think about it,

The Spirit puts His brand,

On everyone who comes in faith,

And trusts the nail-scarred hand.

He puts His mark upon us,

To show just whose we are,

And when others notice,

They can see it from afar.

Owned, signed, sealed, delivered,

We’re wearing Jesus’  brand,

And it is still our mission,

To tell it ‘cross the land.

So never doubt the issue,

Bought by a price so great,

The precious blood of Jesus,

His ownership can’t wait.

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13, NAS)

The Holy Spirit is the presence of God with and in us as believers in Jesus. He comes to “seal the deal” so to speak when it comes to our salvation. What does this mean? It means the He is the One that actually and very personally brings to us the gift of eternal life. He imparts to us what Jesus died and was raised to give us. This spiritual transaction means the Spirit declares us not guilty and pardoned in God’s sight. He seals us in Christ, which is very much like a brand of ownership. He will then communicate to us that we should have no doubts about our new status as children of God. He makes us sure we belong.

Lord, seal us by Your Spirit, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by Kirstie Lambert, used by permission. Thanks, Kirstie, and God bless you.