Is the Christian life worth it? Is it “worth all the sorrows that here befall”? In all that the apostle Paul endured, he certainly insisted that it is well worth it! He pleaded, for example, with the churches of Galatia to remain true to the Christ and to His gospel and to not “turn away” from Him. In his next-to-last sentence in the letter, to show how very worthwhile it is to stay true to Christ, Paul stated, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal. 6:17).
In those days, slaves were usually marked with the name or stamp of their owner, to prove to whom they belonged. In a very literal sense, Paul had received in his body “stripes above measure” (2 Cor. 11:23), having been beaten countless times for his devotion to Christ.
Does your life bear any “marks” of the one to whom you belong? I’m not talking about signs of physical beatings or branding marks. I’m talking about clear signs of steadfast devotion to, unwavering faith in and personal sacrifice in faithful service to your Savior. Is it obvious to whom you belong?