Are Your Ears Pierced?

Nearly forty years ago when it was still pretty much “on the edge” of acceptable, I had one of my ears pierced. But because it was so unacceptable to wear an earring in so many circumstances,’ I eventually stopped wearing it: the hole disappeared! Nowadays, piercings are ‘in’—for women, and men.

David said, "My ears you have pierced" (see Psalm 40:6), which could be interpreted, “You have accepted me as your slave," an allusion to the custom of masters boring the ear of a slave who refused his offered freedom (see Exodus 21:6). In other words, "There is a hole in my ear that marks me for the Lord, for life and eternity."

What marks a bond slave in our age? It is what-Paul-calls a “circumcision made without hands” (Col. 2:11)—a picture of the cross that has removed us from the penalty and power of sin. It means submitting to the work of the cross—to separate me from my self—my ambitions and plans—to be completely His. Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to pierce your ears? Do you have the mark of a bond slave?