"From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus". Galatians 6:17
Paul said he bore the marks in his body of the Lord Jesus. The word for mark here means: a mark pricked in or branded on the body; a scar of service. Perhaps these marks were the scars from when he was beaten three times because he was a follower (as well as a minister) of Jesus.
Do you have any identifying marks of the Lord Jesus? Even if we don't have any physical marks, we should have a mark. We should have some identifying marks and scars of service that are evidence that we are followers of the Lord Jesus.
If not a physical mark than what kind of mark would we have? The mark that distinguishes us as followers of Jesus is love. We have been stamped with His love. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another". That is our distinguishing mark.
The world will know we are His because we are marked with love and by love. Love for our enemies. Love for those who despitefully use us, abuse us and mistreat us. For those who take advantage of us. For those who are out to get us. Love for those who hate us. Love for those who don't love us in return. This love isn't vengeful, vindictive or unforgiving. Love is patient, kind and is not jealous; does not brag and is not arrogant. It does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered. It does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
You can say you belong to Jesus. You can say you are serving Him. You can call yourself a Christian, a follower, a believer, but if you don't have love, you don't have any mark that identifies you as His. Without love, you have nothing-- nothing but words. You can say you belong to Him all day long, but the "mark" is the proof-- the mark of love.
Have a great day. Do you have a mark on you that identifies you with Jesus?
Scripture references:
John 13:35
2 Corinthians 11:25
1 Corinthians 13
Paul said he bore the marks in his body of the Lord Jesus. The word for mark here means: a mark pricked in or branded on the body; a scar of service. Perhaps these marks were the scars from when he was beaten three times because he was a follower (as well as a minister) of Jesus.
Do you have any identifying marks of the Lord Jesus? Even if we don't have any physical marks, we should have a mark. We should have some identifying marks and scars of service that are evidence that we are followers of the Lord Jesus.
If not a physical mark than what kind of mark would we have? The mark that distinguishes us as followers of Jesus is love. We have been stamped with His love. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another". That is our distinguishing mark.
The world will know we are His because we are marked with love and by love. Love for our enemies. Love for those who despitefully use us, abuse us and mistreat us. For those who take advantage of us. For those who are out to get us. Love for those who hate us. Love for those who don't love us in return. This love isn't vengeful, vindictive or unforgiving. Love is patient, kind and is not jealous; does not brag and is not arrogant. It does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered. It does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
You can say you belong to Jesus. You can say you are serving Him. You can call yourself a Christian, a follower, a believer, but if you don't have love, you don't have any mark that identifies you as His. Without love, you have nothing-- nothing but words. You can say you belong to Him all day long, but the "mark" is the proof-- the mark of love.
Have a great day. Do you have a mark on you that identifies you with Jesus?
Scripture references:
John 13:35
2 Corinthians 11:25
1 Corinthians 13
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.Please feel free to call (601) 833-5278 or
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