Our Label

     As humans we all want to be seen as up-rightous, good to do people.  None of us wish to be sour souls, with our only purpose each day being a thorn in someone else's side.  We all wish to be treated with respect, seen as morally good people by our peers.  With all of the social networking sites and the internet, it is easy to get caught up in the way others see or label us as a person.  And because of this, it is easier than ever for more and more of our peers to gain access to our lives.  Now we don't just have those around us daily that we seek to impress, if you will, but rather we have the people we only see once a month or even longer that we feel our impression needs to be made well of to as well.  Now this opens a door to a greater sense of responsibility of the way we conduct ourselves, because no longer is our image seen by a small group of people, but rather a large community of people.

     While the social networking is great for many people, we need to be careful not to get infatuated with the way others label us.  It is key to remember that the way others label us, is not always the way God labels us.  We our His children, we are most precious to Him.  From Deuteronomy 14:2, "You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and He has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be His own special treasure."  Now, don't miss understand the point.  I am not saying we should lead lives that doesn't think of others and the way others perceive us.  Just do not let the way others perceive you carry much weight on your life and your outlook on life.  What is important is to always have God as the sole voice that affects our heart.  We should not go about seeking to greaten our name to our friends and peers, hoping they will have a high opinion of us.  In another words, do not let what others think about you, or the way you want them to think of you, shape the person you are.  Let God shape who you are, seek His approval, pursue magnifying His name!  For when you do this, the people in your life that you want/need, these people will stay in your life, and have a high approval rating of you.

    It is very important to keep your mind focused on what God says about you.  In Exodus 19:5, the Lord tells Moses how He labels His children, "Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth..."  We are His special treasure!  What we don't always realize is that people are quick to make a judgement based on the outside, but friends God sees the inside, He knows your heart.  People in your life may give up on you at times, but God will never give up on you.  Hebrews 13:5 assures us of this great news, "For God has said, “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.""

     Remember that as long as we wear the labels from people, seeking their approval, we limit God's work in us from taking root in our lives.  It is not the people in our lives who will determine our destiny, our eternal life, it is God who makes that call.  Let us seek His approval!