Our brains make quick judgments based on a limited amount of information that isn’t always correct – despite our best intentions. We assume we know WHO they are without thinking twice.
David was labeled. When they saw him, they thought, “No way this could be the son of Jacob that’s a king.” But God saw David’s heart.
God saw the heart of a shepherd, one who would protect his sheep at all costs. So, he was the perfect fit for a king. He would watch over the people God put under this stewardship.
Have you ever been labeled?
Were you not smart enough to do what you always dreamed of doing? Did you let the words or actions of someone other than God define you? Or have you let a past situation or decision label who you are now?
Only God can define and label you.
You’re a child of God.
You’re chosen.
You’re beautiful.
You are capable.
You’re qualified because God qualifies those He calls.
You can do ALL things through Christ.
You’re a new creation.
Another question is, whom are you labeling?
When we see strangers, family members, or those who might have made bad decisions, do we unintentionally label them?
God has a plan for everyone.
Today, I challenge you to start thinking of how God sees them!
Offer the grace you wish others would give you.
Let us abide by James 4:11-12, which tells us, “Believers, do not speak against or slander one another. He who speaks [self-righteously] against a brother or judges his brother [hypocritically], speaks against the Law and judges the Law. If you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy [the one God who has the absolute power of life and death]; but who are you to [hypocritically or self-righteously] pass judgment on your neighbor?”
Two weeks ago we talked about being an influencer. Today, I want to take this one step further and encourage you to be a light!
We all know that we live in a dark world, but to create light in the darkness, we have to be the light!
Creating light requires action. We must look for ways in our everyday life to be a light somewhere or somehow.
We do not have to be afraid of the dark because we have everything to take it away. Jesus!
Like the last couple of weeks, this idea is a challenge for reflection because although we are the light, are we being one? Is our light covered? We have the very thing to illuminate and guide people in the right direction.
It’s time to uncover our lights!
Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We all know we are supposed to love our neighbors, but what about the ones that hate us? Do we love them too?
The Bible is clear; only love can defeat hate.
However, that doesn’t mean you allow yourself to be mistreated; it is about what’s in your heart. You see, hate spreads, and the resentment or anger we receive from another might grow in your heart over time. As a result, we begin to feel the same hate we receive, influencing us more than we anticipate.
Once hatred enters our hearts, it seeps into our thoughts, words, and actions. This is why hatred is a stumbling block!
But hate can’t beat hate, so why fight back with it?
The Bible tells us that if we claim to be in the light but hate a brother or sister, we are still lost in darkness!
Scripture gives us examples like Jacob’s brother and David’s son Absalom, who allow hatred to form, leading them to stumble and make bad decisions. So, what do we do? We know what will happen if we don’t make a heart change.
The only way to get out of that darkness is by receiving the light of God’s love!
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Inflation is up, prices have sky-rocked, and many of us are thinking, “How will we survive this?”
Yet, no matter what’s happening around us, we can take comfort in knowing God is the provider and source of all our needs.
1 Timothy 6:17 says, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”
This verse shows us two places we can place trust. It can either be in money, referred to as “uncertain riches,” meaning it is an unreliable source, or in the living God who created all things.
This verse doesn’t mean that money is a bad thing. The verse says later that God gives us all things so we can enjoy life. That includes money.
While we need money to enjoy the things of life like vacations, eating out, going to the movies, and everything else, this verse reminds us that we need to trust God above the natural.
Paul was telling us to trust God, who supplies us with everything.
He is the provider of material things.
He is the creator of all things.
He has unlimited sources and ways to give us everything we need.
Material things will eventually fade away, but our God will remain.
Everyone is an influencer, no matter age or how well you are known.
You influence the people around you – your children, grandchildren, friends, co-workers, and strangers. So the question is, are you a positive or negative influencer? A challenging but needed question.
How we live, treat people, talk, and even what we consider important or unimportant. Our lives speak into the lives of people around us.
Sadie Robertson says, “The meaning of influence is to affect someone’s behavior or character.”
It is a privilege we get as children of God to be a positive influence in others’ lives and influence them to want Jesus.
Jesus was the perfect example of influence.
Jesus moved people to positive change simply by how He lived.
People wanted what He had.
The goal isn’t to influence millions of people but those right in front of you.
Take time today to reflect on the type of influence you are making on those around you? Is it positive? If not, what can you do to live like Christ?
2 Corinthians 10:13 says, “But we will not boast beyond limits but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.”
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