We are often labeled by things we do or the groups we are associated with. You know, sort of like the labels, often handwritten, on home-canned goods found at farmer’s markets. That label simply states the contents of the jar, and nothing more. Or how about the label inside your shirt. It probably tells the brand, size, where the garment was made, and sometimes other information relating to the shirt itself. But it says nothing about the quality or condition of the shirt.   

If you are an avid fan of a certain sports team, let’s say you follow The Ohio State Buckeyes, then you are part of Buckeye Nation. If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you are considered a Baby Boomer. The devotees to Charles Manson were known as the Manson Family and the women often referred to themselves as Charlie’s Girls. The young people of the 1960s counterculture were called hippies. Many of those same hippies joined the Jesus Movement and became known as Jesus freaks.

Someone who has been convicted of a serious crime is labeled as a felon. If you have a particular interest in food, you are called a foodie. Or if your nose is always in a book, and you are devoted to reading, you might be a bookworm. How about jock, political junkie, addict, deadbeat dad, soccer mom, nerd, liberal; again, all words used to label people. And lastly, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are called a Christian, or in some circles you are simply known as a Jesus-follower.

We tend to find identity in our labels. And that identity can be positive, neutral, or negative. If your boss calls you innovative, you probably tend to be motivated by that, feeling free to allow your creative juices to flow. On the flipside, maybe as a child someone called you a loser and that crippling label has stuck with you into adulthood. But the truth of the gospel is that we are not our labels. We read this in Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Paul is saying when Jesus died and rose again that nothing in his (Paul) past – he was a self-righteous persecutor of anyone who associated with the name of Jesus – mattered in the eyes of God any longer. And that is true for you and me today, no label, good or bad, can keep us from the love of Christ (see Romans 8:31-39). Those earthly labels placed upon us do not define us in the eyes of God. We may still have or be whatever has labeled us, but those labels no longer define our identity.  We are more than just labels.

I also want to extend a warning. Just like any other label, the word Christian is just that, a label. It does not define who you are or what you do; it is only a category you fit in, only a box to check off. And it defines you no more than any of the labels referenced above. We read these convicting words found in 1 John 2:6 – “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

So, labels do not define us, rather, it is who we are in Christ that defines each one of us. If you have given your life to Jesus, then your label is in fact “Christian.” But today I don’t ask whether or not you are a Christian, but instead, I ask you (and me) these questions – Do you walk out your life believing that Christ lives in you? Do you walk out your life considering who you truly are? When people see you, do they see the character of God being reflected in you?

You are more than just a label.   

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My wife and I enjoy sitting on our patio most evenings, as a way to unwind and quiet our souls before bedtime. Since suffering a stroke almost ten months ago, my brain is still learning how to change gears, so sitting peacefully outside as the sun sets is both helpful and healing.

On many occasions, especially after it has rained, the frogs in the pond behind our house sing in unison, a strangely peaceful melody. Much like a choir on a stage, the male frogs arrange themselves near the water’s edge to sing in unison, hoping to attract a female frog. Once a female arrives on the scene, she picks the male most suitable to her. Sounds much like a popular reality television show in which eligible bachelors “look for love.”

Being peaceful. That is elusive for most of us. Not only is there never-ceasing turmoil in the world around us, but turmoil also regularly bubbles deep within our souls. This inner turmoil is what most frequently keeps us, at least for me, from finding the peace and true rest we (I) so greatly need. While sitting quietly in the evenings does bring me a sense of peace and rest, that peace and rest is only temporary. Tomorrow is a new day, filled with new (and sometimes yesterday’s) things that rob me of a peaceful and quieted soul. The only lasting peace comes from and though intimacy with Jesus.        

On the night before He was crucified, Jesus delivers what is known as the Farewell Address (John Chapters 14-17) to the remaining eleven disciples. Early in that address (14:1-11), Jesus tells the eleven that he will going away to the Father, which I am sure created quite a bit of inner turmoil within each of them.

Immediately after dropping that bombshell, Jesus then tells his guys that he will be sending the Holy Spirit to guide them (14:15-26). But Jesus goes even further in trying to calm their inner turmoil, their inner unrest. Here is what we find in v.27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Those comforting words are bookends to the is entire section, as Jesus began his address in a similar fashion – “Let your hearts not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (14:1).

This peace Jesus speaks of is a mystery, it surpasses anything we can humanly understand (Philippians 4:7). This peace that Jesus speaks of is not being exempt from internal (or external) troubles. In fact, Jesus himself had been troubled by his pending crucifixion (John 12:27). Instead, what I believe Jesus is offering is a different kind of peace. Notice Jesus offers not just any peace, rather, he offers his peace, which I truly believe gives us an untroubled soul, a peaceful melody within us.

So, today, will you allow yourself to be quieted before the Lord (Psalm 62:5), praying for a reassuring faith that will allow you to have a peaceful melody in your heart, a stillness like the setting of the sun, a lasting peace, all offered to you by Jesus, who among other things, is called the Prince of Peace.

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Are you someone who tries to have a well-planned out day? You have To-Do lists and your calendar is highlighted in all sorts of colors, representing the various tasks of the day. Or do you just wing it, fly by the seat of your pants, improvising as you go?

“Winging it” is a theatrical phrase referring to actors who “wing” their lines by receiving prompts from someone standing in the wings (the hidden areas to left and right of the stage). And did also you know that the phrase “fly by the seat of one’s pants” was first used to refer to piloting an airplane without the aid of instruments and without a flight plan, using only instinct, visual observation, and pilot judgment?

Let’s be honest, throughout the most days, the urgent and unexpected can, and often does, derail the best laid out plans. But unless you have a plan, a To-Do list, the important frequently gets replaced by the urgent and unexpected.

It is not only temporally (time/effort) wise to have a plan as we navigate through our day, and through life, but also scripturally (relating to our spirit and soul) wise as well. We find these words is Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent surely lead to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” I see this verse telling us that those who are diligent and decisive create situations that are generally to their advantage.

Staying in Proverbs – “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house” (24:27). While this verse literally talks of restraint, getting our priorities right (necessities before comforts), I see it also telling us that proper planning, proper ordering, helps to not waste time and energy on unsuitable or unattainable things.  

And to dig a little deeper, isn’t it also true that we sometimes ask God to bless our mess (our plans) rather than first seeking His ways, His plans?  In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells his listeners to seek the kingdom of God first. And Solomon, the wisest man ever to live, said this – “Commit your work to the LORD and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).

So, today, I want to ask you a simple question. In the midst of walking out your day, is this one very important thing on your daily To-Do list? – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (Psalm 105:4). If not, it would be wise to add it to your rhythm

Author’s Commentary – Whereby planning is future-oriented, a healthy desire to avoid surprises or mistakes, it is also healthy to allow ourselves to be spontaneous, those moments that occur without premeditation, those moments that are now-oriented. Being the planner that I am, each morning on vacation I ask my wife, “Where do you want to eat tonight?” Her response is the same every time, “Let’s see what we feel like tonight!” Hmm, you would think I might eventually get the message.

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When you think of the word masterpiece, what comes to mind? Is it Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” or “Mona Lisa’? How about Michelangelo’s fresco painting, “The Creation of Adam” that makes up part of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel? Or maybe “Starry Night” (van Gogh) or “The Scream” (Munch). Maybe you are not into art. Then how about Alexandros of Antioch’s “Venus de Milo,” Michelangelo’s “Pieta,” located in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rodin’s “The Thinker,” all sculptural masterpieces.

In classical music, Handel’s “Messiah” and Beethoven’s “Fifth” are considered their greatest works. World literature masterpieces include Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey, “Hamlet” (Shakespeare), “Moby Dick” (Herman Melville), Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales, “Pride and Prejudice” (Jane Austen), and Poe’s poem “The Raven.” Architectural jewels include the Taj Mahal, Sydney (Australia) Opera House, Colosseum and Pantheon in Rome, Moscow’s St. Basil’s Cathedral, Grand Palace in Bangkok, and the only remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramid of Giza, near Cairo, Egypt.

You likely recognize many of the works of art just mentioned, they are all well known. But for something to be a masterpiece, it does not need worldwide or historical familiarity. A masterpiece is nothing more than an outstanding work of artistry, craftmanship or skill that is given much critical praise, usually considered someone’s greatest work or achievement, their magnum opus. You and I have created masterpieces of our own. Pause for a minute and think of what you have done or created that might be considered your greatest accomplishment. If you can’t think of anything, think some more!

Everything God created is good; from the vastness of the galaxies to the grandeur of the oceans, all the way down to the tiniest little annoying bug. But you and I, every one of us, we are God’s greatest creation. We are made in His image, which by itself makes us His masterpiece.

Your beauty, your value, does not depend upon what you have done or not done, said or not said, what you have done for others, or even what has been done to you. Our beauty comes because of who created us. Nothing can ever change that! The world, or even that little voice inside your head, might tell you otherwise, but just know that you are God’s greatest work or art, His highest masterpiece, and with you He is well pleased. In Ephesians 2:10, we read these words – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT).

The Greek work used in that verse for masterpiece is poiema, from which we get the word poem. You and I, we are God’s poem, His work or art, His magnum opus. We are created by God. We are an expression of His inner being.

So, today, despite how you might feel, or what someone tells you, just know – and believe! – that in God’s eyes you are stunning, you are magnificent, you are His masterpiece. Right now, will you thank God for creating you in His image and ask Him to help you see yourself, and live and breathe, in a way that reflects that masterful beauty to the world around you.   

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I enjoy reading, and depending upon the book’s genre, reading for me is usually one of two things – educational or entertaining. Reading often helps me relax and settle my soul as well.

When I want something “restful” to read, which is regularly the case these days as my brain continues to heal, I turn to an old standby … brothers Frank and Joe Hardy. I have the complete set of the original fifty-eight Hardy Boys books. Throughout the years I have read each one more than once, but, when I need to read and not think too much, I grab one of their mysteries and dive in. The characters in the series were created by Edward Stratemeyer while the books themselves were ghostwritten by several authors, under the pen name Franklin W. Dixon. (Stratemeyer’s syndicate also published various other fictional books for young readers, including Nancy Drew and the Bobbsey Twins.)

What kinds of books do you like to read? Fiction or non-fiction? Are you particular to one genre, or do you read a wide spectrum of genres? If you read non-fiction, you hope that it is based upon factual information and not simply the author’s interpretation or revision of those facts. If it is fiction that you enjoy, you probably have your favorite authors, those storytellers who keep you turning the pages. Most fiction authors agree that a good story needs to have five basic components to make it a compelling and entertaining read – characters, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution.

A good writer also knows that there is a real art to ending a story. There are six general types of endings used by most writers – resolved, unresolved, expanded, unexpected, ambiguous, tied. The endings are mostly self-explanatory, but to quickly explain two; an expanded ending is just another way to describe the story’s epilogue while tied simply means the story ends where it began; it has come full circle.

God is writing a story, a beautiful story. Every human being is in His story. His story is full of twists and turns, ups and downs, joys and tears, seemingly impossible situations, scenery changes, mystery, and so much more. We are in the middle of God’s story, and isn’t it true, just as we sometimes judge a book or its author after only reading hallway through, we tend to question God as to why He has chosen to write the story in the fashion that He has.

God’s story has a happy, beautiful, and inspiring ending. We will not be left wondering about how the main character will survive or lamenting over the fact that the villain seems to get away with everything. In the end, it will be clear that God’s story is the best story ever written.

The first eight verses of Ecclesiastes 3 are the well-known “There is a time for everything” statements arguing for God’s sovereignty. Pop culture knows these eight statements well, as they are also found in the song “Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There is a Season)” written by Pete Seeger and popularized by the Byrds.

And not only is it true that God has a season for everything, another truth can be found a few verses later – “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (v.11a). So today, trust God in the middle of the story. Whatever it is that you are facing today, if you trust in the goodness and kindness of God, you can have confidence that God is not done with your story and that your story will be a beautiful story… in its time.

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Isn’t it true that often we are present but not really present? Husband and wife sitting together enjoying a quiet night at home. They are having an enjoyable conversation yet one of them is actually far away, preoccupied with something else. How often have you seen a couple sitting in a restaurant with one or both constantly scrolling through stuff on their cell phones, rarely looking at one another, let alone having a meaningful conversation. Maybe you are one of those people?

We, or at least me, so often have so many things speeding though our minds that keep us from really being present in the moment. In those times, we are there but not there. In those times, we are in close proximity to someone but distant in attention given to them. Sadly, I am guilty of that more often than I would like to admit. My wife would be justified in asking me, “Where are you?”  

Actually, “in close proximity” really seems to be redundant. Is there any other proximity other than close?

I believe if we are honest, the same can sometimes be said of our quiet times with God. I will make it personal. I sit down in my comfortable chair and open my Bible along with that day’s devotional materials. Or maybe instead of devotional time, it is simply a time of quietness and reflection. With so much clutter occupying space in my heart and mind, I am present (in that particular space) with God but not really present (undivided attention) with Him. I wonder if in those moments, He is too might be asking me, “Where are you?”

In the opening pages of the Bible, in Genesis 3, we find the story of God asking that very question. Here is what we read in verses 8 and 9 – “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’”

Adam and the woman (she had not yet been named Eve) had just eaten the forbidden fruit, causing them to go into hiding. I just love the image of God “walking in the garden in the cool of the day;” literally, in the early evening as a breeze was blowing through the garden. To me, the apparent tone of this passage implies that this was a regular thing; the three of them intimately walking together every evening. But on this particular evening, they failed to show up, they failed to be present, causing God to ask, “Where are you?” I do not see this question as coming from an angry God, but rather, being saddened by their absence as He walked through the cool garden, damp grass under his feet, birds chirping, a gentle breeze cooling his face.

So, today, as He asked on that evening in the garden, is God asking you the same question – Where are you? Are you present but not really?

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