Labels

bottom line

Bottom Line: We are so much more than the labels that we or others give to us.

Intro

We’ve all used labels. We stick them on jars and manila folders so we’ll know what’s inside. We also stick them on people for the same reason.We tend to find our identity in labels. For example, the label “nerd” applies quite nicely to me. I like video games, anime, and all the latest tech gadgets.

We tend to find our identity in labels. For example, the label “nerd” applies quite nicely to me. I like video games, anime, and all the latest tech gadgets.

We all label others whether we want to admit it or not.

We all label others whether we want to admit it or not.

Samuel was a leader and even he would have passed over David.

Samuel thought that he found the next king based on who was the strongest, oldest, etc.

We do the same thing in ministry, don’t we?

Sometimes we label people in our youth group

Last week aziel group kinda shocked us

tattoo girl in SAMS

Questions

Labels are real.

And the hurt that some of these labels inflict is real too.

Raise your hand if you’ve been labeled in a way that hurt you.

What are some of the labels that people give to others at your school and in society today?

Now ask yourself, have you labeled others in ways that hurt them?

What are the labels that others give you or even that you give to yourself?

Now ask yourself, have you labeled others in ways that hurt them?

Why do you think labeling others is so common?

Teaching

The Bible is full of stories in which others quickly labeled someone and God showed that he had other ideas.

Take the story of King David, for example.

King David was THE king that the Jewish people would point to hundreds of years after his life as THE king; yet, he wasn’t anyone’s first choice.

Hey, he was WAY down on the list as he had older brothers who were perfect candidates.

So when God told the prophet, Samuel, to go and anoint the king from the sons of Jesse, Samuel went down the list of 7 seven brothers and God said these words to Samuel when he thought he’d found the king in one son who really impressed him:

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

One by one, Jesse’s sons came until there were none left and Samuel still hadn’t found the king.

He asked if there were any other sons and Jesse says “Well, the baby is out in the fields’ as if David wasn’t even o the radar with Jesse as a possibility.

But God had chosen David when no one, not even David’s dad had ever considered him.

Maybe you are a “David” – the one everyone underestimates.

This scripture is a reminder to you that God sees your heart.

And God just doesn’t see us as the world sees us, does he?

It’s as if God is saying “throw these labels out the window” because he sees our heart.

Camara example

Andy example

And here is the important thing to remember about how God sees us:  He labels us by our heart.

And by ‘the heart’ it really does seem like this is just a way of saying that God sees who we truly are at our depth.

And not the person that we fear others will see.

No, God sees the amazing potential in us.

When we might look in the mirror and see words like “the shy one” or “the popular one”…. God sees things such as “the one who loves others greatly” or “leader”.

Labels that could only come from God who loves you.

Labels like:

Beloved

Child of God

Mighty Leader

Listening ear

Friend to the friendless

Beautiful

Precious

Righteous

Blameless

Chosen

Say: Can you think of other labels that God might give to us?

For some of you, these words might be slow coming.

But know this, God sees amazing things in each and every one of you.

And for some of you, it might take a Samuel, someone who loves God and listens to God, to remind you that you are NOT forgotten.

To remind you that God does have great plans for you that will absolutely amaze you.

I pray that each of you might get a small glimpse today of what God sees when he looks at your heart.

Pray a prayer such as:

God, you see our hearts.

You also see those labels that we have allowed ourselves to hear and think are true from others.

But it is YOUR opinion that matters most.

So, erase those labels we might have on us that don’t come from you.

And help us to let you write new labels on us.

Amen.

remember, God sees the heart.

He sees you and He loves you.

ask if anyone seriously need prayers about this