Today's Devotional

June 23, 2003

Subject:  Been To War

Galatians 6:17 - "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus."

My brother, the doctor, harasses me all the time about being a Marine, but never having seen combat.  I get the same jesting from an office co-worker.  It's all in fun, but they get a kick out of it, especially my coworker, because they know how much pride I take in being a United States Marine.  I've talked about it before, but there's a certain sense of experience and awareness that comes from having participated in combat.  However, the greater good out of participating in "combat" is the love for that thing that you have sacrificed for.  

That was Paul's experience.  In today's terminology, he would've said, "can't nobody tell me nothing," after all that he had been through.  While not grammatically correct, this is what he was saying.  He had sacrificed to the point of beatings, imprisonments and all types of persecutions for the cause of Christ so anybody attempting to tell him how to live the Christian life was simply out of line.

What about you today?  Have you experienced enough "combat" to really know God?  Do you know God enough that the harassment of others leaves you undeterred?  Do you bear in your body the marks of the Lord Jesus?  Perhaps they aren't physical marks, but marks from broken relationships that God has pulled you through.  Perhaps they are marks from a physical ailment from which He has miraculously healed you, or maybe they are in fact marks from persecution that you have suffered in the workplace or at home because of your stand for Christ.  

Let no one trouble you, you've been to war. 

Carlen