Marked by His Love

One day my brother-in-law, Carl Max, was working on the ranch when he ran across a baby deer abandoned by its mother. Because he is such a compassionate man, he chose to bring her back to the house for the family to take care of her. They instantly fell in love with her and took turns bottle-feeding her to a healthy state. The ultimate goal was to release the deer back into the wild; they never thought she would become an endearing part of the family.

As time went on, the family became very attached to her. With fall quickly approaching and hunting season about to open, the kids became concerned about the deer's safety. As Carl Max pondered about what to do, his fatherly instincts kicked in, and he devised a plan to protect her. When the hunters began arriving on the property, they were given specific instructions not to harm this particular deer. They asked, "How in the world will we know which deer it is?" He said, "She is marked by a collar with a bell around her neck."

Just as Carl Max marked this deer, your Heavenly Father has marked you with His love and is continually pouring out His favor of protection, provision, and peace over you. There is no moment of the day that passes that He is not thinking of your well-being and value. He sees you.

Scripture Reflection

• Psalm 25:7-10 (MSG) – "Forget that I sowed wild oats; Mark me with your sign of love. Plan only the best for me, God! God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, sends them in the right direction. He gives the rejects his hand and leads them step-by-step. From now on, every road you travel will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs; read the charted directions."

• Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV) – "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory."

God marked you with His love to stake His claim over you as a treasured possession. In Biblical times a signet ring was used as an instrument to seal with validation or attest ownership to something; it was a legal signature that guaranteed the promise (contents) of what was sealed. Jesus has sealed the deal - a legal transaction occurred when you asked Jesus to be Lord over your life. He marked you with His love and seal of approval.

A love like this surpasses my intellect, causing me to negate the depth and capacity of God's affection toward me. Even though I heard this message of love many times, my heart struggles with its comprehension. If He has seen all my bad behavior, how can it be, a love so poignant? Yet, his love remains.

Excerpt from Chasing After Charming