A thoughtless cut with a sharp knife. A careless stumble in the dark. An unjust criticism leveled against us. A sudden loss or unexpected heartache. These are some of the things that can leave physical or emotional marks on the body and in the heart. Dealing with the past is helpful. It promotes well-being. But, dwelling in the past can hold us captive to our own emotions. While there is no time-limit for dealing with our wounds and heartaches, at some point we must move forward in the direction of healing. One day we will be able to accept the marks left behind as reminders of where we have been and how we have overcome with the help of the Lord.
Visible or invisible, the marks we bear reveal something about us. Nail prints in the hands of Jesus not only revealed His identify to His fearful disciples (Jn. 20:25); they also provided evidence of the Father’s undying love (Jn. 3:16: Rm. 5:8). Scars on the body of the beloved apostle Paul revealed his unswervingly loyalty to the Lord even in the midst of unbelievable suffering and persecution (Gal. 6:7; Col. 1:24; 2 Cor. 4:7-12; 11:23-28). Every faithful child of God is granted the privilege of suffering persecution for the sake of Christ (Ph. 1:29 cf. 2 Tim. 3:12). When suffering for the cause of Christ comes into our lives, it can leave its marks. But, in these sufferings, we are told to rejoice and give praise to God (1 Pet. 4:12-16). Not all scars are physical. Some are emotional. For example, when Paul spoke of the daily stress he felt in his concern for the churches, he included it in a long list of physical sufferings endured for the cause of Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 11:28).
Because we are human, we can expect occasional conflict, even in the church. This, in itself, is no cause for bitterness or abandonment. Seeking peace involves serving one another through love (Gal. 5:13). In doing so, we fulfill the Law in a single statement: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (vs. 14). In contrast, biting and devouring one another wounds the church, leaving behind marks that discredit the cause of Christ. The true mark of discipleship is to love one another as the Lord has loved us (Jn. 13:34-35). This is the mark that will draw the attention of a lost and dying world. Such demands humility, forgiveness and self-examination. If we want to leave His mark on our world, this is how it must be done.