How much do you know about the oil of anointment? How much do you know about what it represents? Holy things have God’s active presence in them and point to a higher reality. Moses’ brother Aaron, Aaron’s sons and their descendants were anointed with a specially prepared oil to serve as an everlasting priesthood in the Old Testament. The tabernacle, vessels, altars and other utensils were also anointed in service to God. The anointing oil symbolized God’s holy spirit. Jesus Christ, son of the living God, was anointed with God’s holy spirit from birth and prepared the way so that we too might become God’s anointed. Believers who repent, exercise faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, are baptized and have the laying on of hands are eligible to become God’s anointed. If you have God’s holy spirit, He put it in you! But, let us remember the warning in the parable of the ten virgins and steadfastly serve God with reverence and fear to make our calling and election sure.

Donald Ward

Elder, United Church of God

Before his retirement in 2021, Dr. Donald Ward pastored churches in Texas and Louisiana, and taught at Ambassador Bible College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has also served as chairman of the Council of Elders of the United Church of God. He holds a BS degree; a BA in theology; a MS degree; a doctor’s degree in education from East Texas State University; and has completed 18 hours of graduate theology from SMU.