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Listen while you read: "Saviour While My Heart Is Tender"1
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At my office, we have a label maker, a nifty hand-held device used to type up labels and shoot them out, with a peel-and-stick backing to be removed before adorning files, drawers, and folders. Some people get a little carried away and litter their desks with labels! It does help with organization, though.
When Jesus was being attacked by the Pharisees, which often happened, He was labelled as a Samaritan and as possessed by the demon Beelzebub. He was accused of being an outsider to Israel and not affiliated with God the Father at all, but with Satan, the father of lies. In turn, Jesus had some specific labels for Pharisees too: "hypocrites", "whitewashed tombs", "serpents", and "brood of vipers"!
The Pharisees labelled themselves as descendants of Abraham, the father of their nation. Jesus challenged their label:
John 8:56 – Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. (NIV)
How did Abraham see this? It wasn't in a vision. The miraculous birth of his son Isaac foreshadowed the birth of the Messiah. Abraham saw Calvary when he willingly offered Isaac to God in sacrifice on the same mountain. He saw the heavenly priesthood of Jesus in the order of Melchizedek. In Isaac's marriage, Abraham foresaw the heavenly marriage of the Lamb of God to the church, His bride.
Jesus had a label greater than that of Abraham, not because He claimed the honour Himself, but because He and the Father are One, and He was there when Abraham acknowledged God. He used the divine title "I AM" belonging to God alone. Jesus wasn't just creating a label for Himself. The Pharisees did not accept this special relationship between God the Father and God the Son, although they claimed Abraham as their spiritual father.
Those who believe in and follow Jesus have labels as well, including "children of God", "a chosen generation", "a royal priesthood", "a holy nation", and "His own special people". Those who relied on rigorous religious activities and claimed Abraham as a spiritual father created a label all right, but it didn't produce the kind of faith that God desires. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness!
But what kinds of labels do we have for those who don't believe in Jesus? Do we call them infidels and reject them because they don't adhere to the moral standards of the Bible? Or do we call them "not-yet-believers" and reach out to them in love? Remember how Saul persecuted Christians, but by the power of the Spirit became Paul, the greatest missionary!
Prayer: Dearest Lord, thank You for the stories of Abraham, whose faith was counted as righteousness. We would have his faith as well, and want to know You as he knew You, as his Lord and his friend. We rejoice in the wonderful labels that You have given to those who love and serve You, and to those who do not yet believe. Amen!
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About the author:
Shirley Moulton <shirley_moulton@yahoo.ca>
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Many thanks Shirley. With blessings.
Thanks, Shirley, for the encouraging thoughts.
Dear Shirley,
Thank you always for your thoughtful, helpful devotionals.
Thanks, Shirley, for another of your thoughtful and very special writings. Being labelled by Jesus as His faithful follower is certainly an honoured label for us to strive for. Blessings for theses devotionals you contribute.
Love it! You used a very practical invention to see spiritual dimensions – very helpful.
I confess I am a label maker…”too fat!” “looks foreign”, “lazy”, “show off!” and others I’m ashamed to say.
“If we confess our sins, God will forgive” Amen!
(BC)
Good morning, Shirley,
My children loved to use a label maker. It was fun to find the letters and print out the words they wanted. This devotional brought back memories that I had long forgotten.
Of course, your devotional helps us to think about how we label people or are labelled by others or ourselves. I enjoyed how you looked at the some of the labels which are in the Bible and why they were used.
My brother would often refer to being “children of God”. This meant a lot to him, and it opened up conversations about his faith when talking with others.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inspiring us to think of how we can promote faith in ourselves and in others. Blessings.
Thank you, Shirley. According to Ephesians 2:10, we are also His masterpiece!
What amazing insights you have shared with us Shirley! Thank you for the revelation, especially from John 8:56!
I’m sure we all need this reminder you shared so clearly too.
Thank you, Shirley. Your message gives me hope for my two children who are not believers.
I brought them to Church every Sunday for 14 years, but they became quite vocal about not believing. I have always tended to avoid conflict, so I no longer insisted. One of the biggest mistakes I made as a single Dad.
From here on in, I will refer to them as Not Yet Christians.
Thank you.
Blessings,
(QC)
Good morning, Shirley,
I’ve re-read your devotional several times now. It’s very interesting, recalling those passages through the connotation of the “labels”. Your turning “unbelievers” into “not-yet-believers” is good – seeing life through God’s eyes!
Blessings on your day.
(BC)