Making a Mark

The theme for our network conference is "make your mark on our movement". It is good to stop and ask ourselves whether or not we are making an impact, whether or not we are relevant, and whether or not our obedience to Christ is affecting anything beyond our own world...because it should. Without any aspersions to the former question, the question I must ask myself is, "Have I allowed Christ to leave his mark on me?"

I am very much aware that those who have made deep contributions to the betterment of the world, of our Fellowship, and have affected many lives usually were not aware that they really were making much of a difference. It was their hope and desire, but the mark of the master on them evoked a passion propelling them to simplistic and faithful obedience.

Our great leader shared with us a story of a missionary couple who lost their firstborn son to disease while in process of faithful obedience in the African wilderness, decades ago before advances in transportation and technology. These missionaries had not yet left any marks of significance and, while they went on to do things we consider great and spectacular, in the moment of their loss I would venture they felt quite insignificant and wondered if it was really worth it, but they stayed faithful to the mark the master had left upon them, probably not thinking much about the mark they might leave on the kingdom of God.

What enables men and women to accomplish things that we, with full 360 degree view, admire as spectacular? First of all, when we set out to do the spectacular it is rarely spectacular, but when we set out to just be faithfully obedient to our master and allow him to place his mark upon us, we will accomplish his good and pleasing will in our lives.

For me, I need to focus more on positioning myself in proximity to to Master so he can make a deep and indelible mark upon my life. Wherever he leads me and whatever passions he evokes in me will lead me well. At the end of my life how will I measure the mark I've left behind...it will only be revealed in eternity.

These days I don't think a lot about the mark I will make, but I think a lot about the mark of the Master on my life through the cross. Oh, I think I will make a mark but it will be because of the mark he has made upon me.

- David Delp . AGoodDeposit.com