Do you have any birthmark? I have a large one on my back. The funny thing about my birthmark is that it sort of looks likes the map of Ireland. What makes that extra special is that I was born in Ireland. My parents use to say that my birthmark showed Saint Patrick kissed me so that I would not forget my heritage. Both of my children have birthmarks, and so does my granddaughter. Each birthmark is unique and different. These peculiarities also make us unique and different.
Do you have any scars? Scars are another form of defect on our body. Some people bare physical scars while other people have emotional scars. I have several scars from surgeries. I also have some emotional scars, the largest one from the death of our son many years ago. My emotional scars remain visible to those that know me well. They are my reminders of what the Lord has brought me through, and they helped shape me into the person I am today. We also see a variety of scars on the orphans we work with at our homes. Some of the stories behind the scars are heartbreaking.
Even animals can carry such flaws on their bodies. During biblical times, an animal with a spot or blemish would not be acceptable for sacrifice as seen in Exodus 12:5 “Let your lamb be without a mark, a male in its first year: you may take it from among the sheep or goats.” These kinds of imperfections symbolized the sin of the animal which made them unacceptable for sacrifice.
Ephesians 1:13 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,”
Just like these natural blemishes and wounds, sin leaves a scar on us also. Christ offered Himself as our sacrifice as shown in 1 Peter 1:19 “like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” The blood of Christ washes away the mark of sin from our life when we accept Him as our Savior.
1 Peter 2:24: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”
When we become Christians, we receive a different kind of mark. At our baptism, a pastor usually speaks these words “you are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever.” Through our baptism, God is transforming us into the likeness of Christ. Once we receive the mark of Christ, He can no longer see the stain of sin in our heart. This sign of re-birth sets us apart from the rest of the world.
[bctt tweet=”Once we receive the mark of Christ, He can no longer see the stain of sin in our heart.”]
The world sees our new birthmark of Christ by the way we live our life. The world wants to rob us of the birthmark that we received at our baptism. We must continue to let the light of Christ shine through us and into the world. It is up to us to choose to accept these marks just as Christ accepted our wounds of sins on the cross for us.
Philippians 2:15 “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world.”
If we do not accept Christ’s new birthmark then someday a different sign will be given to those in the world that do not accept Christ. Revelations 13:17 “and that no one would be able to buy or to sell unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name.”
[bctt tweet=”Life causes visible wounds and flaws. Christ offers us a new birthmark.”]
Life causes visible wounds and flaws. Christ offers us a new birthmark. Christ’s way may not be the easiest, but it is the only way that leads to eternal life. Christ replaces our scars with His sign. Which one will you choose, the worlds or Christ’s?
Blessings,
Yvonne – #blogger, #speaker, and #author
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
100% of the proceeds from sales of my book, Turning Mountains Into Molehills, go to help the orphans at Orphan Relief Effort, Inc
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Our grandson was born with a birthmark on the top of his head. We call it “a kiss from God”. As his hair grows, the mark is less noticeable. We all have “marks” on one kind or another. Whether my breast cancer surgery scars or a birthmark on a baby, we are all unique. God created us all to be special. 🙂
A kiss from God, that is a wonderful thought. Thanks for sharing it. I am sure your scars remind you of all the ways God was with you during those difficult times. God bless.
Yes…indeed sin does leave it’s mark. I’ve heard dating experts say that blemished skin can make the opposite sex view you as unhealthy and therefore unsuitable as a mating partner. Blemishes do have a way of reminding us that something deeper is “wrong” or that something unfavorable happened and we can’t seem to remove the memory of it. But thank you for this – as it’s a wonderful reminder that God can erase all blemishes and scars.
Thanks Afi, I agree that worldly scars and blemishes makes us unfavorable but Jesus sees our beauty within. God bless
Amen, Yvonne. We are sealed in Christ and God sees us as righteous, fit for His Heaven. Jesus’ blood covers all of our scars. All of them, external and internal. No other blood is that effective. How wonderful.
It is so amazing. Thanks Stephen and God bless
I love what you said here about how Christ gives us a new “birthmark.” Praise Jesus for our new creation in Him!
And His mark gives us eternal life. Thanks and God bless
Yes, only One Man born without spot or blemish! Praise God for His gift of salvation. You brought that home in this post.
Thank you Beth. God sees the beauty in all of us and saves us. God bless
Yvonne, this is so beautiful! When my own sin seems to leave an indelible mark in my memories, I pray I will remember this beautiful analogy. Christ has marked me with a scar that removes any sin scars. What a comfort! What a blessing! Thank you for sharing this message today!
Thanks Melissa. I needed to hear this too. Sometimes the scars can be difficult but God’s always heal us. God bless
I have a few birthmarks and scars! The scars, even though I dislike them, are proof of obstacles endured and pain overcome!
Amen Julie. Thanks and God bless
Hey Yvonne, I have a birthmark and my twin sister does as well, but they are on different areas of our bodies. It’s one way I think our parents told us apart when we were little. Love your thoughts here on being sealed with the Spirit and receiving a new birthmark from Christ no matter our flaws and scars in life! So powerful!
That’s amazing Karen. Thanks and God bless
Love this beautiful picture of Christ marking us as His. I have a square corner on one side of my chin. It’s not apparent unless you touch it. I imagine it as God’s finger and thumb coming around my jawline and making an edge on that corner.
His marks, indeed. God bless, Yvonne! Happy Mothers’ Day!
Happy MothersDay Nancy. I can almost picture God’s fingers forming your chin, beautiful and thai
So thankful for how God sees us compared with how we can be seen by others!
Amen. Thanks Melinda and God bless