I’m Thankful for the Scars

If you haven’t heard the song “Scars” by I AM THEY, please click that hyperlink and listen to it right now.  It’s a beautiful song that portrays how our scars bring us closer to Jesus and how it allows us to know him in a whole new and intimate way.  On top of all that it’s a way for Jesus’s story to be told/shown to others.  It’s truly a beautiful transformation when we step back and see the big picture.

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First, Let's Back Up a Minute

First, I need to back up for a minute and share how God brought me to the point of making this into a blog post.  My wife suffers from chronic pain, which I’ve written about in the past.  Something as simple as going to church with your spouse hardly ever happens for us (so please cherish those opportunities).  But she is such a Godly woman that her faith has never wavered, not even in the slightest.  Because of that we have started to watch sermons at home most Sunday afternoons.Recently God had it planned for us to watch a sermon by Pete Briscoe entitled, “Identity Defined - You are God’s Agent,” in which he spoke about the Christian life and living with wounds (scars). My wife and I loved Pete Briscoe before but it felt like he hit it out of the park with this message so please go watch it.  The scripture Pete built the sermon upon was 2 Corinthians 4:7-12;

 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 - 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. (NIV)

Jars of Clay and Scars

In this passage, the jars of clay Paul is talking about is us.  These jars were very common in Paul’s time and just like today, extremely fragile.  I would say that’s a pretty good description of the human race, right?  Whether we like to admit it or not we are fragile creatures.Because of the jar’s fragility it would often times have multiple cracks in it, or scars in our case.  But the beautiful part is that through the cracks/scars the light of Jesus, which is inside of us, can shine through.  Pete had a fantastic quote in his sermon, “Wounds are the shortest distance to the gospel.”  When we share our scars with others it not only let’s Jesus’ light shine through, but it draws others that are hurting to the light as well.  What better way to witness to someone unsaved then through common scars?The very next Monday God placed the song “Scars” in my playlist which of course, played at the perfect time.  I listened to the song with a fresh perspective and heard the song in a whole new way after experiencing Pete’s sermon.  Because of that I have a whole new appreciation for the scars he has given my wife and I.Before I wrap this up, I wanted to share a point Pete made that in my opinion, is vitally important.  We, as Christians, need to share our scars while we are still dealing with them.  God doesn’t need the scars to be completely healed before he can us them/us.  So please be open to God’s prompting even if it might seem a little scary, he will always reward those courageous steps of faith!