Marked!

I was looking at a particular picture the other day, that I had taken of Piper back in our Junior College days.  It is a favorite of mine that I have posted on the blog a few times.  In it, she is sitting on her family deck on a cold fall day wearing a warm sweater over one of her swim suits.  You probably know the story of how we were alone that afternoon after our classes for the day were finished, and as usual, I was with my trusty Minolta SRT 101 35mm SLR camera in hand, taking photos of her for one of my school projects.

When we had completed the planned photos, I jokingly suggested that since we were alone, that we could get some swimsuit photos of her… well, you’re right!  Her first reaction was “You’ve got to be crazy Jim, its freezing out here!”  But it didn’t take long for her to give me that daring, adventurous smile of hers and say, “You know, I could put on my wool sweater and nylons and we could shoot the pictures like that!”  And as a 19-year-old boy… well… how was I going to argue with that!  So, she went inside and changed while I planned the poses outside. Then when she returned, we got serious and actually got some of the best pictures that I had taken of her up to that point in what would turn out to be a long and rewarding relationship.

What I noticed in the picture as it now hangs on my study wall in front of my desk, was that she was wearing my high school ring, a silver locket that I had given her and most likely the silver Gruen watch I’d also gifted her!  Gee, you’d think that I was rich working as a part-time Sporting Goods salesman at the old Sears store downtown!  But then, that was before I bought my first car and had noting to spend my extra cash on except for investing in my girl’s happiness!

As I seem to do a lot these days, I found myself laughing as I thought about that picture and turned to the dog behind me and said, “She sure was MARKED as being with me!”  It was fun to observe that she most definitely wore the various MARK’s that tagged her as Jim Berruto’s special girl!  And like I’ve told before, that’s precisely why I wanted to get engaged BEFORE we went off to Chico State University.  I wanted all those young guys there to know that she was spoken for and TOTALLY off-limits!  I also believe that she was proud to wear the different MARK’s that associated herself as being connected to me.

The scripture from Jeremiah 15:16 that we have been looking at for a few posts now, specifically talks about how we as Christians are MARKED and tagged as being associated with Christ.  The Living Bible paraphrase states, “Your words are what sustain me; they are food to my hungry soul.  They bring joy to my sorrowing heart and delight me.  How proud I am to bear your name, O Lord.”  Taken in the light of New Testament terminology, we as Christians can proudly stand and boldly declare, “How proud I am to bear (or be as one who wears the MARK of) your name, O Lord!”

According to this verse (and many others throughout the Bible) the visible MARKS of a Christian are a hungry heart, a joyful heart and a heart that is delighted in Him and His Word.  And I call them a visible MARK because characteristics like those residing in our hearts are very difficult to hide!  They just sort of show forth like the ring, the necklace and the watch that Piper proudly wore for many years.

I also noted in this verse, that the two main subjects spoken of are God’s Words and you and I as the one’s who hunger after it.  It is describing a close and personal relationship between each of us and God’s Word.  His Word is something that we have to feel a special connection to and want to wear as a MARK that shows who we are in a relationship with on a daily basis… just as Piper took the time to put on the various pieces of jewelry that I had given her very early in our relationship.  In fact, her wedding ring, which she eventually exchanged with my high school ring, was the very last thing that I took off her hand when she was promoted to heaven.

So, in conclusion this morning, I would encourage each of you to proudly and boldly wear the MARKS of your special connection, of your personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as you walk the paths of your daily lives from your front door, to the world you interact with and then back home again! 

Every time I look at that picture of Piper and the various pieces of jewelry I gave her, of which I still have in her jewelry box on my dresser today, I can’t help but smile and be content with the warm feelings of all the memories we made together… just like I can’t help but to open up my Bible each day and smile with the HUNGER I have for more and more of Him and the JOY and DELIGHT that His Word imparts unto me! 

Can I get an AMEN!

Have a great day, and as you do, keep expecting God’s best for your life!