[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]
Dedication and devotion to a person, idea, or object can be admired in many facets of our lives. Most importantly is the individual’s devotion to God. Reflecting upon this idea has led me to observe people around me. Those who are devoted to God display different attributes from those who are not devoted. The differences in attributes cause God’s children to be viewed as strange. This is no new thing; Peter said “they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Pet. 4:4). People in the world see the marks of the different things Christians are doing. These marks are simply indicators of our devotion to God. Individuals will either display these marks with great joy, attempt to hide the marks, or in many cases refuse to bear such markings.
In the Old Testament, every seventh year the Israelites were instructed to release the debtors as well as slaves. The slaves were given a choice to leave free with gifts from the master or to remain and stay forever (Deut. 15:12-18). What is interesting is that the slave that chooses to stay with the master forever is taught to be taken to the doorpost and have the master thrust an awl through his/her ear into the doorpost. This piercing would be a mark to show the dedication and devotion to the master.
Under the law of Christ, we are not commanded to participate in this activity, but there is a principle we can find that is also taught in the New Testament. When we are dedicated and devoted to God, we will have a mark upon our character as the Israelite slave bore the mark of a piercing to demonstrate his/her devotion to their master. The markings that I will suggest that will distinguish Christians from the rest of the world are not physical, but are very much recognizable.
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind (Mt. 22:37-38). However, Jesus did not stop there but continued with the second greatest commandment which was to love one’s neighbor as himself (Mt. 22:39). This principle is good when practiced for it causes each person to stop looking at the needs of self and to look at the needs of others. No wonder James referred to this instruction as the royal law (Jms. 2:8). People would no longer cause harm to others, but will do what is in the best interest of others.
Often the mentality is either trade tooth for tooth, or it is to get the best of the other before they get you. These mentalities are both unloving and ungodly. Satan deceives people with all the bad things in the world. By dwelling upon all the bad things that could happen to a person causes one to be apprehensive toward others and untrusting. This switches the trust for security from God to self. Paul said, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Bad things happen to good people, but this does not negate our individual responsibility to love one another.
Despite what people may do to us, we are expected to love one another. The reason why we love others is because of the love we receive from God. “Beloved if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 Jn. 4:11). Who are we to despise the Master’s creation? We are truly no better than anyone, just unprofitable servants striving to do the will of God (Lk. 17:10). As we act with love, our deeds are meaningful. Without a motive of love, our actions are worthless (1 Cor. 13:3). So when we see a good charitable deed, we do not need to look at how the receiver will be able to repay us sometime down the road. The person that we may be able to help could be our enemy. Do we pass by and do nothing? Certainly not! Having ability and knowledge to help another out and not completing the deed is sin (Jms. 4:17). Jesus said to love your enemies, and do good to those who may not repay (Lk. 6:27-36). Loving like Jesus is to act and expect nothing in return.
Season your Speech with Salt
The Christian’s speech is to be tasteful and preserving. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6). Certainly we need to speak pleasantly to other Christians, but in this context Paul is addressing the treatment of those outside of the body of Christ. Our speech should not be used to destroy the other, but to admonish and persuade the individual to be converted to Christ. Seasoning our speech with grace will assist in answering questions concerning our hope.
The words we use are very powerful and can have meaning. Many are careless in the selection of words that are used and resort to various profanities, and spend time just discussing vulgar activities. This ought not to be the case among Christians, those imitating God (Eph. 5:1-4). We cannot talk both like the world and God and still be righteous. James points out that a spring does not bear both fresh and bitter water, it is either one or the other (Jms. 3:11). The same needs to be true with our words. When our speech is like God’s our words will have meaning and cause those we are in contact with to think and consider the differences between the children of God and those who are children of disobedience.
The right things to say do not just come out, but are a direct product from the things that are in our hearts. “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man” (Mt. 15:18). So the first step is to have the pure word of God in our hearts in order to speak things of life and godliness. It will require diligence (2 Tim. 2:15), meditation (Phil. 4:8-9), and prayer (Jms. 1:5) in order to be able to speak as God would speak (1 Pet. 4:11). As a result of studying and application of the Scriptures, we will acquire a working knowledge that will manifest in our conversations at home, in the workplace, and wherever we may be. The world does not desire to retain knowledge of God and is shown in the speech of those in the world.
Pressing On with Perseverance
Letting go of the past and moving on is very difficult at different times in our lives. Whether it is things that we have done or things done to us, taking the next steps can be painful. People are haunted by the memories of things in the past and cannot move on because certain events are held tightly within the mind. Pressing beyond difficult events is a mark that is cherished by Christians. We have all done things which we are not proud for doing (Rom. 3:23). Paul considered himself to be the chief of sinners because of his treacherous history of persecuting Christians (1 Tim. 1:15). Yet the same man was able to move on because of what he saw ahead-Christ.
People decide to press on because what is seen ahead is better than what is behind. Paul told the Philippians:
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on that I may law hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one things I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14).
The prize that is found in Jesus exceeds in value than what we have now or had in the past. Paul was able to leave his former lifestyle in order to chase after the goal. Pressing on is not easy, because we are reminded of the past. It should not discourage and cause us to stop and dwell on the past, but humble us and keep the wonderful grace of God in thought. Our task is to reach out and press forward as Paul did.
Pressing on with perseverance is admirable among all. We see the movie and cheer for the underdog who works intensely for the prize. We admire the character’s perseverance and desire to continue. People both in the world and in the Church can see individuals who have experienced hard trials, but are encouraged by the person’s endurance and desire to keep going. God has given us armor to defend ourselves and to engage in good warfare, but these tools will only be of benefit when we continue to press forward on the battle field (Eph. 6:18). There is no honor in retreating, but going on despite the odds the world puts in front of us. Perseverance shows dedication. Retreating is easy, but pressing forward is the challenge.
Christians are God’s workmanship made for His glory (Eph. 2:10). Craftsmen often leave their signature or mark on their pieces so that all may know who fashioned it. The marks we have discussed are attributes we find in Christians, attributes of the Craftsman. The Israelite slaves that chose to remain with their master displayed their mark physically. How much greater is the mark we show of our dedication to God as our Master. The mark we bear to show our allegiance to God is manifested within our very lives. The marks ought to be distinct and clear for all to see, if not then time remains to make our lives to show our marks of devotion.
