#Hashtag: Do Our Labels Define Us?

Scripture: John 1:45-46

I am one of those people you would call, “Average”. I do things well, but I wouldn’t say I am great at anything. There are people who are better at school, sports, serving, and pretty much everything I do. I would never say I am “one of a kind”, “special”, or “unique”; I am just “average”. Do you feel the same way?

In choir at school there were always these girls who got the solos, and I thought they were amazing. But because I thought so highly of them, I never had the courage to audition for a part myself. In youth group there were kids who would lead Bible studies, sing worship, be leaders. Again, I thought so highly of them because God set them apart, he made them special for His plan. There was always someone better than me, so I allowed them to be used by God. I would just step in line and follow. 

Do you know what I realize now? There will always be someone better than me, but God doesn’t care. He still wants to use me! He created me special, unique and has a purpose for me. Look at the disciples, they were just fishermen from Galilee. What about Jesus? He was the son of a carpenter from Nazareth. Yet God did some pretty amazing things through them, wouldn’t you agree?

Do you feel like you are one of the “average” people? Nothing special about you, nothing you can offer God? It’s a lie that Satan wants you to believe. You are one in a million and God has such a big plan for you, if you are just willing to trust him. There will always seem to be someone better than you for the role, but God doesn’t always ask for THE best, He asks for YOUR best.

So, are you going to ignore Gods calling for you and let those you believe are better for God’s plan step in and do it. Or are you going to step up and do your best to fulfill the calling God has specifically for the ‘better than average’ you? 

#prayer; God, help me to be strong and courageous. I forget at times that you created each of us special for your plan and purpose. Help me to follow Your will and trust You even when I think others could serve you better’? 

#challenge: Take a selfie and copy/paste this:

#challenge: I was created for something #better!

#Hashtag #BibleReadingPlan #BetterforHim #Day1 #DoOurLabelsDefineUs

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Philippians 2:3, Matthew 7:2

Do you ever see someone and think, “Oh my goodness, I am so glad that’s not me”? Maybe it’s the way they dress, play a sport, act, but you are just so thankful, you are better than, well, that. Don’t lie, we all play the comparison game. Yesterday we talked about thinking others are better than us, today we are talking about thinking we are better than others.

Don’t get me wrong. God created you unique, special, set apart for a great purpose; but don’t let it go to your head. We are also called to be humble, servant hearted, and encouraging. That is not so easy in this day in age; I completely understand. You watch tv, movies, and see in real life that “Mean Girls” and “Jerks” seem to rule the school. They seem to be the popular ones, and deep down we all wish for just a little glimpse of that.

Friends, this is not what we are called to do as a Christian. We are called to act like Jesus acted, spoiler alert…. He wasn’t a fan of the so called “popular kids” in his day. Jesus hung out with the cripples, the tax collectors, with the people others literally called “dogs”. In our terms today, he hung out with the geeks, those with special needs, the poor. The people the rest of the world thought of as “weird” or “worthless”. The ones the “popular” people bullied because, “Hey, at least we are not like them, we’re better”.

God created each of us amazingly special for His purpose and plan. Who are we to tear apart our Heavenly Fathers work? So next time you start to think worse about someone ask yourself what Jesus would say if you shared those thoughts with him. Would he laugh with you, or would he go to their defense?

#prayer: Father, you made each of us different and special. Help me to encourage others instead of tear them down, even in my own mind. For we are Your masterpiece, created new in Christ Jesus.

#challenge: Take a selfie with a friend and copy/paste this:

#challenge: There is no #Better or #Worse only #unique

#Hashtag #BibleReadingPlan #Encourage #Day2 #DoOurLabelsDefineUs  

Scriptures: Matthew 10:29-31, Genesis 1:27

To be honest, some days just stink. 

You didn’t even want to crawl out of bed this morning and now you’ve slept through four snooze alarms. Super. How many “Good morning, Sunshine’s”, “Did you just wake up?”, and “Nice hair” comments will you endure today? 

The day moves on, and no matter what you say or do, people take you all wrong. Feelings hurt, people become angry and nothing you do helps the situation. You finish the day feeling ignored. Friends, family and even your faithful pet pass by as if you’re some diseased stranger they’d rather not look at. 

Days like this can be draining, especially when they hit you one after the next. Difficult situations often leave a person with not-so-great feelings about who they are or who they’re not. Thoughts of being insignificant, no-good or even worthless creep in and try to make themselves a part of our identity. Good news: Our Heavenly Father has much to say about our identity and value.

Our identity is found in Christ. You were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). That’s good to know, right?! While it doesn’t mean you physically look like Christ, it does mean He equipped you to be Christ-like. He created you in His likeness, to be like Him; that is pretty significant! 

Our value is found in Christ. Christ loved you so much He was willing to die for you (Romans 5:8). The awesome thing about Christ’s love – you don’t have to do anything to earn it. He is there in the middle of bad days, unthinkable situations and tragedies. He extends His sacrificial love, letting you know, your value is not found in day-to-day feelings or thoughts. Your value is found in the never-ending love Christ gave for you on the cross. 

Remind yourself every day, “My value and identity are found in Christ.” In the book of Matthew, Jesus reminded His disciples not to worry about their value or worth because if He was able to keep up with the life of a small sparrow He was definitely able to keep up with their life – even down to how many hairs were on their head. 

And guess what? The message Jesus shared with His disciples is true for you today: you are always valuable – no matter what kind of day you’ve had. 

#prayer: Lord, thank you for creating me in Your image, continuously loving me, and always seeing me as valuable. Amen. 

challenge: take a selfie and copy/paste this –

#challenge: I am always #valuable!

#Hashtag #BibleReadingPlan #Day3 #DoOurLabelsDefineUs 

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Some things are clearly mysteries. Who left the almost empty milk carton in the fridge? Where’s the TV remote? What did I do with my phone?! What’s that weird smell? And, what on earth am I here for – no really, like what’s my purpose? That’s a heavy question. 

It’s easy to get stuck in a circle of crazy questions centered on your purpose. 

How do I know my purpose? Why can’t “his” or “her” purpose be my purpose? What if my life doesn’t have a purpose? A few questions turn into a tornado of self inquires, and before long you’re wandering down a lonely road filled with potholes of doubt and hopelessness. You’re tripped up and trapped by your thoughts, sometimes momentarily believing these thoughts are true… “Your life really doesn’t have meaning.” “You’re pretty much useless.” “You have no purpose.”

Those are all lies.

God asks us to trust Him. When the milk carton is empty, the remote is MIA, you don’t even want to know where the stink came from, and yes, even when you can’t find your phone – God says, you can trust Him. But seriously – when you aren’t even sure what your purpose or point on the planet is, God says, “Trust Me.”

God knows the plan and purpose for your life. He knows the questions and doubts you have about who you are and who you’re supposed be. And what your Creator keeps telling you through all the questions, fears, and doubts – “Trust Me.” 

He knows the plans laid out for you better than anyone else – even you – and those plans are great! It doesn’t mean everything always turns out like a fairy tale or you’ll be rich, but it does mean, as a child of God, you know God is always with you and one day you will be with Him, face-to-face. Think on that! In that moment, that face-to-face Jesus moment, all things will be right. Just, wow.

Your purpose is found through trusting God and faithfully believing He always knows your plan and purpose. When doubt sneaks in, replace it with truth, like that found in Proverbs 3:5-6 reminding us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight “(ESV).

#prayer: Thank you, Lord for creating me with a plan and purpose. Help me to trust you in all I do. In Jesus name, Amen. 

challenge: take a selfie and copy/paste this –

#challenge: my #purpose is found in Christ!

#Hashtag #BibleReadingPlan #Day4 #DoOurLabelsDefineUs 

Scriptures: Psalms 147:3, Romans 3:23

My brother and I would often times be outside ‘stick fighting’; we would each grab a stick and pretend to sword fight! It was a lot of fun. One day when I was 5 years old, he had me backed up on top of a picnic table. He warned me not to back up any further or I would fall, but I made a choice not to listen. As a result, I backed up off the edge and had fallen on the concrete! One ER visit later, I was in a lot of pain with a lump the size of a goose-egg on the back of my head. OUCH! If only I had listened to my brother, this wouldn’t have happened.

God made clear to us his perfect and holy ways. Even in the very beginning, Adam and Eve were told not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge; and they ignored his commands. The whole world over, we’re all broken and sinful. Scripture says in Romans 3:23, ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’. That means no one is good enough: we’re ALL broken. Just like I didn’t listen to my brother’s warning, God tells us not to sin and we so often don’t want to listen to him.

Praise Jesus that he came to save us from our brokenness! God does see us as broken, and that’s certainly a label we deserve. But the Good News is that just because we’re broken, doesn’t mean He stops loving us. Psalms 147:3 says ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds’. 

 #prayer: Lord I am broken, but thank you for giving me hope for salvation! Thank you for your unfailing love. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

#challenge: Take a selfie and copy/paste this:

#challenge: I am #broken but Jesus #heals!

#Hashtag #BibleReadingPlan #Day5 #DoOurLabelsDefineUs

Scriptures: Ephesians 2:4-9

A few days ago, we talked about feeling worthless; and yesterday we talked about being broken. Throughout our lives, there are days we simply don’t feel valued. So today, we’re going to discuss how valued you really are.

When Jesus came to earth, he told us what love is. More than that, he showed us what love is. He brought the dead back to life, he healed diseases and healed hearts. Jesus gave hope to everyone who came to him, and gave life to all who believed. He lived a perfect life. During that time, he knew there would be a day he was to be betrayed and nailed to the cruel cross. 

Crucifixion is the most painful way to die known to man, because they have to die slowly and with extreme pain the entire time. The word ‘excruciating’ was invented to describe the pain on the cross. Yet Jesus, in all his perfect knowledge and wisdom. He left Heaven to be with us on earth, walk with us, teach us, and die for us; all while knowing he would die in the most painful way possible. He knew it was going to happen from the very beginning, and yet still He chose to die for us! 

Why did he do that? Because our sin created separation between us and God; but we are loved and valued so much that Jesus wanted to REMOVE any separation between us and him! You are loved and valued by God! 

#prayer: Lord thank you for wanting to know me! I don’t deserve your love, and yet you still love me. I pray that you help me to value you in my life too! Amen.

#challenge: Take a selfie and copy/paste this:

#challenge: I am #valued as a child of God!

#Hashtag #BibleReadingPlan #Valued #Day6 #DoOurLabelsDefineUs

Scriptures: 1 Peter 2:9, John 15:16, Romans 8:28

My wife is quite a lady. After all, she puts up with me! When I’m being ornery around my brothers (paybacks for the stick fight incident…), my wife will say ‘you are so mean to your brothers’. I generally respond ‘yes, but you chose me!’ You see, my brothers didn’t have a choice but to have me around; my wife CHOSE to marry me! Despite all the mean or ornery things I do, my bad attitude, my broken self… my wife CHOSE to marry me! 

I don’t know if you realized this or not, but you are chosen by God. He’s not stuck with you; he loves you and chose you to be a part of His Kingdom. John 15:16 says ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.’

You’re chosen by God, and also given a task to further his kingdom. What is that task? In specifics, you need to be available for whatever that may be. However, whatever we’re doing, he’s appointed us to bear fruit for him. So not only are you chosen to be a child of God, but you’re also chosen to bear fruit in his name. 

We often label ourselves better or worse than others, or perhaps worthless or useless. But God recognizes we’re broken and live in a fallen world, and still values us and has chosen us to be a part of his kingdom! From this day forward, don’t focus on what labels you have for yourself; focus on who God has labeled you, and bear fruit for him!

#prayer: Lord thank you for choosing me! What a blessing it is to be a part of your kingdom. Help me know the tasks you have laid out for me, and to follow your will every day. Amen.

#challenge: Take a selfie and copy/paste this:

#challenge: I am #chosen by God and have #chosen to love him!

#Hashtag #BibleReadingPlan #Chosen #Day7 #DoOurLabelsDefineUs