March 13, 2009
Branded
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A few years
back when we were laying out the start of this devotional, Kevin was talking
about the idea of the banner being a type of brand that would be recognized as a
label and property of our ministry logo for “According to your Faith”. I had
never heard of that used like that before but having grown up in Texas in a
farming and cattle community I was familiar with branding.
For people with livestock branding is
important because it shows ownership. Properly done, branding leaves a permanent
mark.
T
he basic design for most brands will
consist of a combination of characters (letters and numbers) and symbols.
As I learned it isn't just livestock
owners that are brand conscious. It is no great revelation to say that our
society as a whole is status conscious. We think we need to have the newest,
biggest and best.
It also has to carry the right brand.
There may be no discernable difference between two articles of clothing, but if
one of them doesn't have the right brand boldly emblazoned on it, people don't
want to wear it. It might be Nike, Adidas, Roots, Horny Toad or something else
(depending on what the flavor of the week is)
but it must have the right label.
I think it's more than a little ironic.
Brands were originally created to denote ownership. What are we saying when we
must wear a certain brand? Are we not publicly pledging at least our allegiance
to that brand? Are we not in essence saying that we submit to the ownership of
that brand?
Now I understand that in fashion (and
many other areas) the brand name (or lack thereof) is important in some regards
because it tells us who made it. I'm not against having brand names. It just
seems that when we have a need to publicly make a display of that brand we are
saying it owns us.
The brands we wear emblazoned on our
clothing, vehicles and electronics come and go in style. Anyone remember the
eight track vs. cassette wars? VHS vs. Beta? How about Blu-Ray vs. HD? In the
seventies Adidas was the must have brand of athletic apparel. Then it switched
to Nike. I have no idea what it is these days.
There is a label however that will never
go out of style. It's worn on the thigh and on the jacket where some brands of
athletic apparel carry their labels.
Revelation
19:11-16 NIV
I saw
heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is
called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are
like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him
that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and
his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on
white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes
a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an
iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
LORDS. Our Savior will return, branded for all to see. He is the King. He is the
Lord. No other brand name can ever stand up to Him.
We have a choice; we can wear the brands
of the world or carry the brand of Jesus. Whose name will you advertise? Who
owns you? How does the brand you’re wearing affect your attitude, your actions
and your life?
Until next time, may you boldly wear the
brand of our Lord and let it permeate every part of your existence.
Blessings,
Darrel Mason