WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MAY 08, 2024
TOPIC: BRANDED FOR CHRIST
BY T. O. BANSO
“Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus” (Galatians 6:17 American Standard Version).
Paul wrote the book of Galatians to focus the church on the true gospel amid the activities of the Judaizers who were preaching that the Gentile believers must obey the Jewish laws to be saved. They were preaching that the Gentiles must be circumcised. Paul called this another gospel, which is not a gospel at all.
He said in Galatians 1:8-9, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (New King James Version). Paul dismissed the position of the pro-circumcision preachers and stated that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision meant anything, but what counted was a new creation (Galatians 6:15).
Rounding off the letter, Paul said, “Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus” (Galatians 6:17 American Standard Version). The phrase “let no man trouble me” also means “ let no one give me any more trouble” (Good News Translation) or “So don’t give me any more trouble” (Easy-to-Read Version). It could also mean, as the Amplified Bible explains, “From now on let no one trouble me [by making it necessary for me to justify my authority as an apostle, and the absolute truth of the gospel].” The concluding part of the verse says Paul’s reason why no one should trouble him: “For I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus” (American Standard Version). Note the words “branded” and “marks.”
The New Revised Standard Version renders Galatians 6:17 this way: “From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.” Again, note the words “branded” and “marks.” Some translations have only the word “marks”, not branded. The New King James Version puts the verse this way: “From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul said he bore on his body the marks or scars of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated as marks or scars is stigmata, the plural of stigma. Stigma in Greek is “a mark incised or punched (for recognition of ownership), i.e. (figuratively) scar of service” (Strong’s Concordance).
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says it is “a mark pricked in or branded upon the body.” Slaves bore the marks or brands burnt or pricked in their bodies as a mark of ownership by their masters to prevent them from escaping. The marks showed whom they were serving.
Some Bible scholars believe that Paul was alluding to this mark of ownership in Galatians 6:17 viz-a-viz the demand of the Judaizers for the physical circumcision which he said meant nothing but what counted was a new creation. They believe Paul was saying that the name of Christ is engraved on his body as His slave or servant. Paul called himself a slave, servant, or bondservant of Christ (Romans 1:1; Titus 1:1).
Paul said no one should trouble him, for he bore the marks or scars of the Lord Jesus Christ. Other Bible scholars believe that the marks or scars Paul said he bore on his body were from the stripes or beatings he suffered in the ministry, the wounds inflicted on him – the scars of service. To Paul, the marks or scars on his body were superior to the scar of circumcision. The Living Bible renders Galatians 6:17 thus: “From now on please don’t argue with me about these things, for I carry on my body the scars of the whippings and wounds from Jesus’ enemies that mark me as his slave.”
Paul suffered much persecution in the ministry for the sake of Christ and the scars were on his body. Among other things, he suffered, in 1 Corinthians 4:11, he mentioned being beaten and homeless.
Paul also talked about his suffering in the ministry in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.” (New King James Version).
In 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, Paul spoke about the hardships, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights, and hunger among other things that he suffered. “Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren” (2 Corinthians 11:25-26 New King James Version).
Paul could have been referring to all the physical injury to his body in the ministry as the marks he bore on his body for the sake of Christ. Persecution is not something that should be strange to a Christian. Jesus promised those who had left everything to follow Him persecutions along with the earthly blessings, and, in the age to come, eternal life (Mark 10:30).
Paul and the other apostles suffered persecution. The early church was persecuted. Paul said all who desired to live godly in Christ Jesus would suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). While Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra, the crowd stoned and dragged Paul outside the city, thinking he was dead. But he later got up and went back to the city. Thereafter, he and Barnabas proceeded to Derbe to preach the gospel. They returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, and strengthened the church, telling them, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22 New King James Version).
Paul was branded for Christ. He had on him the marks that he belonged to Christ. Are you branded for Christ? Do you bear on your body His marks of ownership? Do you complain about suffering or persecution because of Christ’s name, or do you consider it an honour to suffer for him? In Acts 5, after the apostles had been flogged, they left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Christ (verses 40-41).
Are you branded for Christ? Is His name engraved on your body? Has His teaching made an indelible impact on your life so that it shows you belong to Him? Do you have the scars of service on your body? Do you bear on your body marks or scars of your suffering for Him?
Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, as Paul told Timothy (2 Timothy 2:3). Paul said in verse 10 that he endured all things for the sake of the elect, that they also might obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Endure suffering or persecution for the sake of Christ. 2 Timothy 2:12 says if we endure, we shall also reign with Him but if we deny Him, He also will deny us. “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you” (2 Timothy 4:5 New Living Translation). Live for Christ and die for Him (Romans 14:8; Philippians 1:21).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: I shall live for Christ and die for Him. A servant cannot serve two masters; I am a servant of Christ; I shall not serve another master in Jesus’ name. I shall not deny Jesus. I shall endure to the end and be saved.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
