“From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17 NLT)
As you read the verse above, what jumps out? For me the two words that drew my attention most forcefully were: “these things.” I immediately wondered what “things” he no longer wanted to be troubled by?
If you read the verses written before the one above you quickly learn that there were those in Paul’s day, as there are today, who didn’t believe the Cross of Christ was enough. There must be the Cross plus something else. In the early church, comprised of so many former Jews, they were tormented by those who believed in order to become a true believer in Jesus, they had to be circumcised.
Paul’s solution was to focus on the Cross and the completed work that Jesus alone accomplished on our behalf. Equipped and motivated by the Holy Spirit, once cleansed of our sins by the precious blood of Jesus’ sacrifice, we’re filled with His Spirit and the resultant transformation, confirmed by the Holy Spirit, is all the evidence we need to verify the authenticity of our devotion to Jesus.
What does any of this have to do with assessing our life’s scars? Maybe nothing. Maybe a lot! What makes the difference? Who or what is the motivating force behind the decisions you make that give direction to your life? For the Apostle Paul, the Cross was the preeminent consideration in every decision he made.
Every decision was weighed considering its bearing on how it would reflect on the sacrifice made on that Cross. Would Jesus be magnified, and His sacrifice honored, or would it detract from the glory of the pain and suffering of our Savior?
Recently I saw a quote attributed to Jessica Allen that said: “Most of the scars on people’s hearts weren’t left by their enemies. They were left by the people who claimed to love them the most.” Who betrayed Jesus? One of His original twelve disciples, the men in whom He invested the most time, effort, energy, and sacrifice. How like today!
As you assess the scars on your heart, who put them there? There’s a sense in which we’re nearly immune to the wounds of those we don’t love. It’s those closest who have the power to inflict wounds that cut the deepest, the effects of which hurt the most and last the longest. In each of our lives there are those who have hurt us most deeply, not necessarily with their words alone, but with their actions.
Actions that shouted: “You’re not good enough!” “Your love wasn’t strong enough!” “Your efforts fell far short of my expectations!” Each leaving scars that would never completely heal. Dan DeWitt made an interesting observation when he wrote: “They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
Remember the chant we learned as kids: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words will never hurt me.” That may sound good to a child hurt by another’s words, it’s just not true. When we’re called names, ridiculed, embarrassed, or harassed by the words of others, it can hurt deeply and leave scars that affect the ways in which we’re able to process life.
Being a Jesus follower leads to healing and wholeness we can find in no other way. Jesus never lies, never criticizes, or belittles us. He always comforts, builds up, encourages us to trust Him and bring to Him the pains and heartaches we’ve endured. I wish I could say it doesn’t matter what names you’ve been called or the hurtful words that have belittled and scarred you, because I know in my own heart that it does matter – it matters to Him!
As you assess your scars, make sure you take them to the Cross.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 