Marking


Getting up at 5:15 on a Saturday morning is not exactly my cup of tea. Since I get up early on six days out of the week Saturday is the day that I prefer to sleep late. However I had to work at the Exterra Games as part of my volunteer commitment for the Avon Rec Center which required a 6 AM arrival time.

My job was to mark the bodies of the athletes with their numbers and age category using indelible ink. In some ways I felt like a nurse. I had on the plastic gloves, so that the paint would not stain my hands and as people would walk up to me they would have to expose their arms.
Some proudly flexed their muscles…some men would strip off their shirts in preparations…others slathered on the sunscreen making it difficult to get the ink to adhere.
I didn’t know there were so many different sizes and shapes of arms. Long ones, short ones, hairy ones, shaved ones, freckled ones, scarred ones, muscular ones and flabby ones.
Although the numbers we were meant to be permanent, they would fade after a few days or by using a little oil to help erase them. 

The Bible mentions marks too. In the end times people will have to choose whether or not they will receive the “mark of the beast” which will signify that they belong to Satan. If they choose it they will be able to buy and sell, but without it life on earth will be agonizing but worth it for all eternity.

Jesus also bears marks. His marks are the scars that were formed on His hands when He went to the cross for us and our sinfulness. (John 20:25) Along side the scars are the names of everyone that belongs to Him.  (Isaiah 49:16)

Paul chose to bear the marks of Jesus. In other words he made the decision to align his life with His Lord and Savior that he was willing to be tortured for the advancement of the Gospel. (Galatians 6:17)

Those of us who belong to Him also are marked. It is not with ink or scars, but it is with something that is precious and permanent. It is His gift of the Holy Spirit that comforts us, guides us, empowers us, sanctifies us, and teaches us. Even though He is an invisible mark on us, through Him we can show the world Christ.

Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

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