EVERY SCAR HAS A STORY

Scars tell a story. I have a scar on my left knee, a scar on my upper right arm, a scar on my left index finger, and so on. Each one has a story. If you have time, I can give you the history of my life by the scars on my body – every scar has a painful tale to tell.

Imagine the stories that Paul could tell.  "The large one on my cheek was caused by the stoning at Lystra," (Acts 14:19). "The ones on my back are from the beating I took at Philippi and the five times the Jews beat me," (Acts 16:22-23; 2 Corinthians 11:23-30). Unlike my scars, the scars on Paul's body tell stories of preaching the truth under adverse circumstances and the hateful response of people. But Paul was not emotionally scarred by them. In fact, he was able to glorify in them with no thought of revenge. He always saw what he suffered for Christ as a sharing in Christ's suffering. He saw it as insignificant, in comparison to what Christ endured.

I am enamored when people claim to be Jesus. Yet, they have no scars on their hands. The absence of scars also tells a story. No scars on their side. No scars on their feet. When Thomas believed, Jesus showed him His scars. The scars in Jesus' hands and side tell a story - one of extreme suffering and the shedding of innocent blood for the sins of man (John 20:20, 25-29). 

Today, in a more polite society than that of Jesus' and Paul's, our scars are memories of conflicts. We can choose to reflect and let the scars tell their stories, not of bitterness, but of rejoicing that we are counted worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:40-41). 

Rickie Jenkins