Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

    What’s your mark?

    What’s the distinguishing characteristic that reveals who you are?

    How do people identify you?

    What is the genuine mark of your identity?

    A service mark is incredibly valuable and important for an organization. It requires a very specific and sometimes expensive process to receive. The organization must prove it is distinctive. When approved, it must also be carefully protected and properly used. It is the mark of identity for that organization.

    So what’s your mark?

    Lots of folks would say, “I wear a cross!” Others would reply, “I have a fish symbol on my car.” But I’m not talking about something you put around your neck or stick on your car. I’m asking about something more personal — something that is a part of you, something that is indelible and undeniable.

It’s something more personal — something that is a part of you, something that is indelible and undeniable.

    So what’s your mark?

    The apostle Paul said, “I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17 NAS) The word translated “brand-marks” is stigmata — this was something pricked into or branded into the skin of a slave used to identify his master. Paul’s service mark was Jesus. His goal was for his life to be totally caught up in and identified with Jesus. (Philippians 3:7-11) In fact, this was his goal for those he was seeking to mature in their faith, to bring them to complete maturity in Christ. Listen to his passion as he shares this vision:

But oh, my dear children! I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. (Galatians 4:19)

So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. (Colossians 1:28-29)

    Paul consciously set out to live as an example before new Christians so they could see Christ in him, urging them to follow his example as he followed the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) He called them to not only let Christ be their, but for them to try to have his mindset. (Philippians 2:5-11) Most importantly, he reminded them that the Holy Spirit was at work to conform them and transform them into the nature of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

    So what’s the point?

    When people think of you, what do they think of first? What is your distinguishing characteristic? What is your defining mark?

    Hopefully we can say with Paul, “My distinguishing mark, my service mark, is Jesus!”

    Let’s pray the prayer of this old hymn and trust that God can make it true in us!

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
All His wonderful passion and purity;
May His spirit divine, all my being refine
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

When somebody has been so unkind to you.
Some word’s spoken that pierces you through and through.
Think how he was beguiled, spat upon and reviled.
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. Amen.

Title: "Jesus(R)"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: June 3, 2002

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