Labels Don't Define You

Have you ever had to wear name a tag? This is so others can put a label to identify who you. Labels are real. Some are known for being pretty, athletic, and smart. However, others may be labeled as short, fat, ugly, and others that are hurtful. Your parents may even not let you hang out with certain people because of labels that have been put on them. Not all labels are good ones. When we place negative ones on ourselves we tend to believe them. Do you have this problem?  

There was a guy named Samuel who was a prophet. He was called by God to find and anoint a new king for Israel. Whenever you think of a king you probably think about the oldest, tallest, strongest man. This is the description that Samuel had in mind. God reminded Samuel to not look at their outward appearance when choosing the next king. Samuel went to choose from one of Jesse's sons. He went through 7 brothers and did not find the king. That was until Jesse called for David the youngest and smallest of his brothers. To his family, he was just a shepherd boy, but God chose David to be the next king. Scripture goes on and tells us that David was a man after God's own heart. God sees your heart.

God doesn't see us as the world does. We see in the new testament that Jesus spent his ministry spending time with the ones that others didn't such as tax collectors, leopards, fishermen, and the poor. He saw everyone he encountered as a valuable person worthy of dignity, even when he called them out for their sins.  You may feel that you have been labeled with one trait or regret you have. Jesus sees past those labels that this world gives you and loves you. Your identity is not what the world says about you, but instead what God says about you. He calls each of us to follow His example. He calls us to also rethink the labels we've put on our friends, family, and our enemies.

In 2013 there was a song written by Matthew West called "Hello, My Name Is". This song reminds us that Jesus sees beyond our sins and looks at the person He believed was worth dying for. This goes for that classmates they may not dress like others. That co-worker that you may find annoying. it is easy to put labels on someone. We should view other people as God does while also remembering what He says to us as well. It is by them that we can be encouraged to live the truth that God gives.
What labels do you need to give God?

Pray:
God thank you for seeing me as worthy to die for even when this world looks at me negatively. I pray that you help me reach those that labels are weighing them down and use me to show them their worth in you.