Ever wondered, how an injury sustained in sport can be a badge of honor to a sportsman? Some years ago, I came across an interview with the ex-world boxing champion -Larry Holmes- published in a leading Sports Magazine in India (Sportstar). What caught my attention was the pride this boxing champ (in his younger days) took in being a sparring partner of arguably the greatest Boxer to have walked on planet earth- Muhammad Ali. Without any qualms, he shared an experience of Ali giving him a black eye in one of the training sessions and how, he went about in the streets without any goggles, flaunting his “black eye” so that this bodily injury would proclaim “to the whole world”, that he was Ali’s training partner!!!

How true in the spiritual realm too! The injuries (physical or emotional) sustained, by way of persecution, while following our Lord can be our badges of honor. It certainly was to one apostle Paul. “…

For I carry on my body the scars of the whippings and wounds from Jesus’ enemies that mark me as His slave.” -Galatians 6:17 (TLB)

Are you carrying any spiritual “badges of honor”? If so, have no regrets, instead be PROUD of them.

Prayer: Father, enable me to count as gain, my sufferings for thee. I pray for the transformation of my persecutors too. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Suresh Manoharan manoharansuresh@yahoo.com