Galatians 6:17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
Have you ever seen a "burn out" on a motorcycle. It is something to see. There are two ways it happens. One way, the ride just sits on the bike, pops the clutch and hits the throttle so hard it spins the back tire. The rider usually just straddle the bike. The other common way is to put the front tire against something like a bar wall or other immovable object and do the same thing. Pop the clutch and throttle hard. In both ways, the rear wheel spins, the rubber smokes and if the rider wants he can run it till the back tire pops. It's a sight to watch and the smell from the smoke is unmistakable.
Paul in his letter to the Galations writes, "From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." In his second letter to the church in Corinth, he outlines more clearly what all he has been through. "Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;" (2 Corinthians 11:23-25)
Being a disciple carries with it some danger and in fact for some believers real physical marks and challenges. Open Doors estimates that 13 Christians are killed daily for their faith and hundreds, possibly thousands face great risk and physical punishment every day. I wonder sometimes if people can tell, we are believers in Christ. Do they see the genuine marks of our faith that are in us. Do they see the reverence we have for the faith, the prayer life we engage in, the words that express our beliefs. Do they see the things we do that may cause us some pain and anquish. Paul says, he struggle with his anxiety over the churches and I wonder if we have anxiety of His church today. It is clear that the Believer will experience some struggles and as a result when we get to stand before Christ maybe he will simply hug us to make the scars go away. Not only will the scars we carry for the faith be a testimony to others about our beliefs but they will show Him our true belief in His kingdom.
Much love, Preach
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