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Whose brand do you wear?
I recently had to opportunity to visit southeastern Kansas for the first time and I learned a few things about living in cattle country. I had no idea that there are such national treasures as federal grasslands in KS. Being from the north, I’m familiar with state and national forests in Michigan, but I’d never heard of national grasslands.
What I discovered was that ranchers obtain permits to ship their cattle to these rich grasslands where they spend the summer grazing on the grasses. What I found amazing is that they pack on an average of 3-4 pounds per day just from eating grass. After three months of feasting on the country’s richest grasses–and gaining about 300 pounds–they are rounded up and sorted out as to whose cattle belongs to whom. How do they know whose is whose? By the brands they wear.
Brands are those identifying marks that are burned into the
hide of a steer to identify them as the property of a particular ranch. Brands are not just the folklore of T.V. westerns and movies. They are functional labels that grew out of the cattle industry. But cattle aren’t the only things that get “branded.”
That spiked my curiosity. So, I did some checking about branding (on the internet, of course).
In Michigan (where I live) we have a thriving vineyard industry, and what I discovered is that some vineyards use branding irons to burn their label into their wine barrels. Again, the purpose is to mark them with a distinguishing label so that they are not mistaken for the vintage wine of a different year or vineyard. It’s all about labeling and becoming recognized by your label.
Now you don’t have to live in cattle or wine country to be familiar with labels. Check the back of your jeans. I bet you know whose brand you’re wearing. Check your shirt or blouse, jacket, or cologne. And what about that favorite pair of sneakers? I just bet that there is a company logo embroidered or molded into the sole or side of that shoe. Oh, yea, and that well worn-in ball hat most likely sports a favorite “branding mark” of a team, a truck, a race car number, a gun manufacturer, or some sporting goods company.
And what about that vehicle you drive? That little molded piece of plastic or metal that is affixed to the hood is . . . you guessed it . . . a brand. And they all mean something, don’t they? You know what company built it; whether it’s an American , European, or Asian make. You also know something about the quality of the product and expense just by the “brand.”
Brands are identifying marks. So what mark identifies you?
Jesus, in one of His last conversations with his twelve disciples, made a statement about His “brand” of follower in John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” According to Jesus, the identifying mark of a Christian is the quality of our love for each other. If we love well, we reflect whose we are. If we don’t love well, then we don’t wear His label, and others see us just like one of the herd.
If what sets a Christian apart is the way he or she relates to others–loving or not–the question is: Whose label do you wear? Better still, but far more frightening to ask is: Whose label would others say you wear? Now don’t ask if you don’t really want to know. But if you dare to ask, listen well.
Love is the “brand” of a true Jesus follower. What’s your “brand?”
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Such a great site. I am saving this page.
I somehow don’t agree with a few things, but its great anyways.
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