Have you ever thought about the power of labels?
What about the power of those we let hang the labels on us?
Sometimes the labels are good.
“You’re so
smart.”
“You’re so beautiful.”
“You’re so organized…
“talented…
“spiritual…
“blessed.”
These are the
labels we like to hear—whether they’re true or not. They have a seductive
quality, inviting us to congratulate ourselves on what we’ve accomplished.
Sometimes the labels are bad.
“You’re so selfish.”
“You’ll never
amount to anything.”
“You’re such a
liar…
“a betrayer…
“untalented…
“lazy.”
Unlike the
positive ones, these labels can devastate us. The echos of these take residence
in our souls, providing a haunting refrain as we try to follow God’s path.
We can’t get away
from a world that seeks to define us, hanging labels on us for everyone to see. And although we know we
shouldn’t, if we’re not careful, we can begin to view ourselves through the
filters of others.
An Interesting Parallel
An Interesting Parallel
Let’s consider labels from a manufacturing perspective. When goods are manufactured,
there are only two sources that have the legal right to label something.
The one who
manufactured the goods, and
The one who
bought the goods.
What Does That Have to do with Us?
That concept holds just as true for us as believers. Only two people have the authority and the right to label us.
That concept holds just as true for us as believers. Only two people have the authority and the right to label us.
The One who
created us, and
The One who paid
the ultimate price for our freedom.
These Two also
have labels for us.
“You are
precious.”
“You are loved.”
“You are Mine.”
Today I challenge
you to join me as I banish the false labels (and the false labelers) and focus
on the only two who have the right to define me.
I love this analogy. I will never look at labels on a manufactured product the same way again. We do need to remember to read the correct labels about ourselves.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I feel the same way. Now labels on products remind me of Whose I am! Blessings, E
DeleteThank you, Edie. It is easy for me to tell others what you just told us but it is hard to believe it applies to me. Thank you for speaking Truth into my heart this morning.
ReplyDeleteShalom rav!
Jean, I'm that Way too. I can preach it, but it's hard to accept. Blessings! E
DeleteI couldn't agree more. So easy to speak this truth to other people. So hard to apply it to myself. Thanks for the reminder, Edie.
DeleteEllen, thank you! Blessings, E
DeleteEdie, can't tell you how much this means to me. Thank you for putting "labels" in perspective.
ReplyDeleteThank you for dropping by! Blessings, E
DeleteThank you for this refreshing look at labels. God and Jesus are the ONLY ones we should look to and listen to, as we traverse this world.
ReplyDeleteWell said, dear Edie, and so very timely. Thank God that His labels for us are the only ones that matter. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteIn 7th grade music class, the teacher circulated the room as we all sang some old tune. She stopped at my desk and declared "non-singer." It took me until I was fifty years old to shake that comment and join the choir at church. I've been happily singing ever since. Thanks for reminding us that God's labels are the ones that matter.
ReplyDelete