One of my bicycle routes takes me past a commercial sand and gravel pit. You can tell a marked difference between the two sides of the roadway at this point. The highway leading away from the pit is cracked and depressed because of the heavy loads carried by the trucks that are leaving. The other side of the road, which is travelled by empty trucks coming in to pick up a load, is noticeably less stressed.

I suppose that if a person is carrying a load for Jesus, he or she might show some signs of stress. Paul, the apostle, certainly felt that way. In Galatians 6:17, he says, “…I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

While most Christians today have not had to face the physical beatings that Paul endured, it does take a toll on us to live for Jesus. The world heaps scorn upon us. Even well-meaning people question our actions and motives. This causes a lot of stress. We shouldn’t think that this is strange; it is actually to be expected.

It seems that Paul considered these stress marks to be a badge of honor. Perhaps we should do the same.

What kind of marks do you bear for Jesus?