If we live in the Spirit . . . ~ Galatians 5:25
Today’s devotion talked a lot of the Galatians. They were very rural. Many were farmers and/or slaves. There was a low literacy rate.
Paul, in talking with this group, tailored his message to these men and women by using metaphors they would understand. As farm laborers and slaves, they knew about fruit-bearing, burden-bearing, seed-bearing and brand-bearing - and Paul delivered the word of God by describing Him by knowing this:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace . . . ” - 5:22,23
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” - 6:2
“Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” - 6:7
“I bear in my body, the brands of the Lord Jesus.” - 6:17
As a marketing professional, I am of course most intrigued by the fourth example; of brand bearing. In this age, we hear about brands and branding on a daily basis. We see case studies on Nike’s “swoosh” or Coca-Cola or any of a number of Proctor & Gamble activities.
But what about God’s brand? Do you bear God’s brand? Are we talking about outwardly examples, like tattoos? Or do we mean a branding of our hearts in which our actions in becoming Christ-like are the true representation of God’s brand?
I think I have a lot of work to do before I can say I truly am branded by God.
Today, my prayer for you and I is that we be willing to bear brands for Him even in our bodies.
Feed
