DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: MARCH 20 WEARING THE MARKS OF CHRIST (2) Scriptures: Gal. 6: 17; 2 Cor. 11: 23 – 28
Many Christians seems to see “wearing the marks of the Lord Jesus as being dressed with the protective power of Christ whereby, nothing by any means can harm them. Some who responded to the postings on “Whose Marks are You Carrying” are in this group._ As seen in the series of this devotional “Wearing The Marks Of Christ”, is a phrase that literally means having the complete characters of Jesus as well as ability to pass through persecutions for Christ with joyful Spirit.
This devotional will however, touch a critical part of “wearing the marks of Christ” which many modern Christians would not like working with. We are talking of Apostle Paul’s kind of “bearing the marks of the Lord Jesus” which were marks or scars of his persecutions and tortures for sake of Christ.
Apostle Paul said in Galatians 17: 2 that he “bears the marks of the Lord Jesus.” These are not glorious marks. they are scars on his body indicating various sufferings he went through for the sake of the gospel. Jesus bore these sufferings in the course of His Mission on the earth. The “marks” Apostle Paul referred to here, meant the type of branded marks slave masters and livestock owners give their slaves and the flock to identify them. We Christians must be branded with marks which Jesus bore. We must allow ourselves to receive marks of persecutions, scars of beating and records of jails gone through because of the gospel. Our first generation faith parents had these marks. Apostle Paul gave details of these marks as seen in 2 Corinthians 11: 23 – 28. In summary: –
He was frequently imprisoned (2 Cor. 11: 23; Acts 16: 23).
He was exposed to death again and again (2 Cor. 11: 26; Acts 14: 19 – 20).
He was lashed with whips five times. Each time he was given forty lashes less one (2 Cor. 11: 24).
He was beaten with real rods three times (2 Cor. 11: 25; Acts 16: 22).
He was stoned once with large and medium sizes (2 Cor. 11: 25).
He was subjected to hunger at various time as well as fasting (2 Cor. 11: 27).
As Christian proclaiming wearing the marks of Christ today, what is the nature of the marks? Do you fast for souls to come to God or for your personal benefits? Do you preach the gospel in the face of persecutors, daring the consequences or shut up so as to be spared? Most often, these days we prefer people seeing the marks of the Lord on us in the forms of prosperities, opulent lifestyles, and estate owners and related others. If we are to proclaim wearing the marks of the Lord like Apostle Paul, we must also wear the scars of sufferings in the hands of haters of Christianity rather than running after comforts and luxuries. Army generals are rated by the scars of bullets received in the battles and not decorations of medals. As Christ’s soldiers, we must flash our scars received from the preaching of the gospel.
PRAYERS:
1. Ask God in prayers to enable you once again to take your cross and follow Jesus faithfully.
2. Ask God to forgive you of all murmurings and complains you made when passing through hard times as a Christian, in Jesus name.
3. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to re-equip you with holy determination to work for Jesus as long as you live in Jesus name.
POSITIVE CONFESSION:
I will from today do the works of God without complaining. I will not run away from my divine assignment.
CONTACT US?
You can contact us for prayer requests or discussion through ubasimon341@gmail.com
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch