"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye
were healed." -1 Peter 2:24
I love to cook. I guess I've already mentioned this before on one of my posts. And I love to cook because I love to eat. As the Lord says in His Word, if you don't work, you don't eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). So I work for my food! Actually, it's more like a battle sometimes, really.
If you take a close look at my arms and hands, you will notice some burn marks, scars from knife cuts and all sorts of blemishes. I guess a career in hand modeling has already flown out the door a long time ago. I call these blemishes my "battle scars." My son once heard me talking about my battle scars and he didn't understand what I was talking about. He thought I've literally went to battle and I have some scars to prove it! Although it might be a little exaggerated when I call my burn marks as battle scars, but for me, these scars remind me of all the hard work I invest on this life, for my family, my friends, and even for my own pleasure in eating as well as for fellowship. It might not be as bad as actually going to war but my cuts and burns can hurt as bad as any other wounds inflicted on our bodies. It might not be as horrible as a gun shot wound but it's my wound and it's my pain.
I'm not being selfish here. I just want to put a little "dramatic" meaning into all the hard work women give on behalf of their families, relatives, friends, co-workers, church family, and even to strangers, when most of the time neglecting their own selves. Most Moms find almost no time to be vain about their physical looks, on how blemished their hands are, how "unperfect" their arms and bodies can be. Scars are never admired in our society unless they tell a very heroic and touching story of sacrificial love, sentimentality and freedom. That's why I call my oil splatter marks as battle scars because I do have some stories to tell. On how I "labor and toil" in the kitchen to feed my family and in order to serve them. I hope these labors of love can extend even to a wider reach to include those who really need my help and care. I'm working on it.
Jesus has His own share of "battle scars." You know the whole story. In all His power and glory, Jesus can make all the scars on His body to vanish in a flash, and yet He chose to leave them where they are so that anyone who wants to see the proof of His sacrifice, the scars are there for them to see. I can't even begin to imagine the scars on His forehead from the crown of thorns that was shoved forcefully down on His head when He was being mocked and called the King of the Jews. I can't even imagine the scars on His back from the whipping and brutal attacks done on Him as He walked the streets of Jerusalem carrying the heavy cross. I know there will be a scar on His side from the spear used to poke Him after He asked for some water to drink while He dangled on that same cross. And, of course, we all know the scars on His hands, the ones He showed to Thomas. And don't we ever forget the scars of the nail wounds Jesus also has on His feet.
These are truly the battle scars of God. He has these scars to show to anyone who wants to trust in Him. Those scars prove God's unfathomable love for all mankind for whom He died on the cross. God also has those scars to show His enemies on how Jesus has already paid it all. Satan and his army of devils will always lie to us on how we don't belong to God but even Lucifer himself knows he doesn't have any argument against the battle scars of Jesus. It is finished.
Are we so calloused and stupid as to let the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ just go to waste in our own life? What with all the evidence of God's battle scars on His own body and yet still a lot of people can't, don't, and won't trust in His plan of salvation! It breaks my heart when someone says that he can't be serious about God because he's not ready yet. Not ready for what? What are you waiting for? Life is short. Death is final for those who have not trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Bible says that the gift of eternal life with God is only for those who believe in Him. And how can we say we love the Lord and that we trust in Him but we're not serious about Him and His teachings? If you're in love with someone, isn't it the desire of your heart to always be with that person? To do anything and everything for that person? Why would loving God be any different?
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." -Isaiah 53:3-5
"The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." -John 20:25-29
I know my scars are nothing compared to what my Savior has to show for His love and sacrifice to save me. Me, who is nothing. Me, a sinner. The scars of Jesus prove that there is a real spiritual battle going on beyond what we can see here on earth. If the battle scars of Jesus don't move you to trust Him, please ask God to open the eyes of your heart so you can see His truth. Scars may not be pretty but I'm sure that the scars of Jesus are the most beautiful marks we'll ever see all through eternity. Glory to God!
I love to cook. I guess I've already mentioned this before on one of my posts. And I love to cook because I love to eat. As the Lord says in His Word, if you don't work, you don't eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). So I work for my food! Actually, it's more like a battle sometimes, really.
If you take a close look at my arms and hands, you will notice some burn marks, scars from knife cuts and all sorts of blemishes. I guess a career in hand modeling has already flown out the door a long time ago. I call these blemishes my "battle scars." My son once heard me talking about my battle scars and he didn't understand what I was talking about. He thought I've literally went to battle and I have some scars to prove it! Although it might be a little exaggerated when I call my burn marks as battle scars, but for me, these scars remind me of all the hard work I invest on this life, for my family, my friends, and even for my own pleasure in eating as well as for fellowship. It might not be as bad as actually going to war but my cuts and burns can hurt as bad as any other wounds inflicted on our bodies. It might not be as horrible as a gun shot wound but it's my wound and it's my pain.
I'm not being selfish here. I just want to put a little "dramatic" meaning into all the hard work women give on behalf of their families, relatives, friends, co-workers, church family, and even to strangers, when most of the time neglecting their own selves. Most Moms find almost no time to be vain about their physical looks, on how blemished their hands are, how "unperfect" their arms and bodies can be. Scars are never admired in our society unless they tell a very heroic and touching story of sacrificial love, sentimentality and freedom. That's why I call my oil splatter marks as battle scars because I do have some stories to tell. On how I "labor and toil" in the kitchen to feed my family and in order to serve them. I hope these labors of love can extend even to a wider reach to include those who really need my help and care. I'm working on it.
Jesus has His own share of "battle scars." You know the whole story. In all His power and glory, Jesus can make all the scars on His body to vanish in a flash, and yet He chose to leave them where they are so that anyone who wants to see the proof of His sacrifice, the scars are there for them to see. I can't even begin to imagine the scars on His forehead from the crown of thorns that was shoved forcefully down on His head when He was being mocked and called the King of the Jews. I can't even imagine the scars on His back from the whipping and brutal attacks done on Him as He walked the streets of Jerusalem carrying the heavy cross. I know there will be a scar on His side from the spear used to poke Him after He asked for some water to drink while He dangled on that same cross. And, of course, we all know the scars on His hands, the ones He showed to Thomas. And don't we ever forget the scars of the nail wounds Jesus also has on His feet.
These are truly the battle scars of God. He has these scars to show to anyone who wants to trust in Him. Those scars prove God's unfathomable love for all mankind for whom He died on the cross. God also has those scars to show His enemies on how Jesus has already paid it all. Satan and his army of devils will always lie to us on how we don't belong to God but even Lucifer himself knows he doesn't have any argument against the battle scars of Jesus. It is finished.
Are we so calloused and stupid as to let the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ just go to waste in our own life? What with all the evidence of God's battle scars on His own body and yet still a lot of people can't, don't, and won't trust in His plan of salvation! It breaks my heart when someone says that he can't be serious about God because he's not ready yet. Not ready for what? What are you waiting for? Life is short. Death is final for those who have not trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Bible says that the gift of eternal life with God is only for those who believe in Him. And how can we say we love the Lord and that we trust in Him but we're not serious about Him and His teachings? If you're in love with someone, isn't it the desire of your heart to always be with that person? To do anything and everything for that person? Why would loving God be any different?
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." -Isaiah 53:3-5
"The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." -John 20:25-29
I know my scars are nothing compared to what my Savior has to show for His love and sacrifice to save me. Me, who is nothing. Me, a sinner. The scars of Jesus prove that there is a real spiritual battle going on beyond what we can see here on earth. If the battle scars of Jesus don't move you to trust Him, please ask God to open the eyes of your heart so you can see His truth. Scars may not be pretty but I'm sure that the scars of Jesus are the most beautiful marks we'll ever see all through eternity. Glory to God!
Really good post Mara! You have a way of preaching the gospel which makes everything you write very interesting. We all have 'scars', battle scars of one kind and another; without our struggles we might be less than human.
ReplyDeleteWow, cool! There's already a new reply button on the comments section here on Blogger! Awesome... =) Love it!
DeleteNow I can reply directly to you Tim! lol Thanks once again for visiting my blog & for your comments. You're always appreciated.
So how was your Christmas & new year's celebration? I hope it was joyful & you've enjoyed yourself. It's nice seeing you on here again... God bless you!
I had a lovey Christmas and New Year Mara. A very peaceful time and I enjoyed it immensely; had some nice pressies, got some money and ate some nice food too!
ReplyDeleteThat is a very good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteShort but very accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one.
A must read post!
my page - forehead acne