Do you remember when you got your high school class ring? Way back when I was in high school, it was a big deal. It meant that you were moving up in the ranks. It meant that you had this high school thing figured out and that soon you were graduating and going out to start the rest of your life.

Have you ever worn someone else’s ring? Girls you may remember putting a roll of tape around the guy's ring to make it small enough to fit your finger. Guys usually wore the girl’s ring on a chain around their neck. If you did wear your sweetheart’s ring, you wore it with their permission as a sign to the world that you were connected to them.

Back in Bible times, the king had a signet ring with an image unique to him. This ring was a stamp of authority. The image that could be transferred, usually in wax or clay, on documents to show the king’s approval, much like we think of a notary seal today.

In the book of Haggai, the Jews were having a hard time. They were back in their homeland after their return from Babylon, but they were not prospering. The prophet Haggai brought them a word from God telling them that God had withdrawn the rain from their crops because they had forgotten to honor him by rebuilding his temple. They were so wrapped up in building their own homes and lives that they forgot about him. God was ready for things to change, for a new government for his people to be obedient.

Haggai 2:23 says, “On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” God was pleased with Zerubbabel and was making him like a signet ring, which gave him the authority to go work in God’s name.

Jump with me now to the New Testament. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” He was reassuring his disciples that he had the authority of the Father and then he passed it on to them telling to use that authority to further the kingdom, and it doesn’t stop there. He has also given that authority to us. We know it as the great commission. Let’s be God’s signet ring and go in his authority to be all that he has called us to be.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) (NIV)