Labelled by Scripture part 1

Guest blog by Jen Smidt

We women love labels.  Labels on clothing, furniture, makeup--the trendier the better.  Labels make us feel as though we belong--that we have value, significance, and worth.  I love the J. Crew and Pottery Barn labels but must settle for trying to re-create the look with clothing and furnishings that actually say Wal-Mart. 

We are quick to slap labels on people too--wise, godly, foolish, lazy.  To make ourselves look better, we cling to labels that may be more flattery than truth, hoping others will buy into our self-marketing scheme.  We compare labels with those around us to see how we measure up.  If our analysis lands in our favor, we become that label.  I would much rather be labeled wise and godly than foolish and lazy, even though my life can at times reflect the latter more than the former.

As I have grown in my love for Christ and the Bible, I have come to realize that the most important and helpful label I can put on myself is one directly from Scripture.  We have to be careful though; God’s Word is not a self-help dictionary where you can turn to your favorite word and name it and claim it.  If this were true, we’d all gravitate towards words like prosperous and healthy and beautiful and avoid all words from the book of Job.  I am not espousing playing word roulette with your bible.  I am encouraging you to be a woman so intimately familiar with the story and promises of God that you have illustrations and definitions from Scripture that anchor their truth deep into your soul and define your life.

As I spend more time in God’s Word, I realize the value that comes from letting it define and label me.  In my life, I have tended towards defining myself in vague, often worldly terms that allow me to stay stuck in those places.  “Moody” is a perfect example of a label that I place upon myself with a certain amount of unwillingness to truly own the sin that is coming out of my heart.  Moody is slippery and difficult to repent of.  “Frustrated” is another one of my favorites - a generalized description for the state of my heart when I am too lazy to truly pinpoint the source of my anger or disappointment or dissatisfaction.  “Dirty” is a former label that plagued my soul for years and left me ravaged by the effects of believing that label above all others.

The problem is that words like moody, frustrated and dirty are just vague enough to leave me wallowing in them indefinitely.  Because they have a generous amount of gray to them, laced with a trace of excuse making and blame-shifting, I am left rationalizing my sin and stuck in the mire of shame.

Not so with Scripture labels.  Scripture labels lead us to worship or godly sorrow, rejoicing or repentance. When I embrace a label from Scripture as the good news of the Gospel purchased for me by the blood of Christ--such as righteous, redeemed, justified--I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my God. 

He has labeled himself as abounding in steadfast love, compassionate, forgiving, holy and perfect.  As his chosen daughter, because of the blood of Christ, He has named me saved, beloved, and cleansed.

What are some of your labels from Scripture?  Personalize them.   Make them your own.  Let them lead you to greater awareness of the greatness of your God in worship or more keen understanding of your sinful heart from which you have been forgiven.  Live in the freedom of this label:  slave to Christ.




Jen Smidt is a 16 year veteran of redemptive marriage to Phil and a 13 year veteran of sanctifying mothering of Jake, Nate and Ellie. Writing, teaching and revealing her ongoing need for Christ keep her humble. Find more of her encouragement on her blog: http://recognizingjesus.blogspot.com/

posted by Margaret McSweeney @ 6:10 PM