Pastor Chris Karuhije
5 Labels God Gives Us
“What’s in a name?” That short question posed by Juliet Capulet to Romeo Montague in Shakespeare’s renown play Romeo and Juliet, asserts that a name is just that, a name. It has no power over us – it’s meaningless, artificial. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. As we read through the Bible, we see how important names and labels are. Whether its Eve (Hebrew for “living”), Abraham (“Father of Many Nations”), Samuel (“God has Heard”), Emmanuel (“God is With Us”), we see time and time again how much value God places on a name.
But just because you were named and labeled as something undesirable, does not mean that it’s the end of the story, and you are doomed to live out that label. In the Bible, we are introduced to a man whose name warranted a name change. But instead of living up that label, he chose God’s label instead and became a success in his life. Here is what the Bible says about him in 1 Chronicles 4:9, 10:
“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.”
Jabez, literally pain, called upon God and asked Him to fulfill His promises of blessing. As a result, instead of causing pain, Jabez was not only blessed but became a blessing. Regardless of what your name is or what someone has labeled you as, it’s by receiving God’s label over anyone else’s that will bring in the result of blessing that Jabez experienced. And although there are hundreds of promises in the Bible concerning you, here are 5 labels God confers on you that you can receive right now:
Child of God. John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” If you have received Jesus in your life, you are automatically made a child of God and have access to your inheritance in Christ. You have a place of belonging, a Father that loves you, and an eternal home in Heaven. With this truth, we are not childish, but childlike in our faith and humility, as Jabez did when he prayed, “bless me indeed!” And because you are His child, God answers!
Loved. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” When you know that you are loved unconditionally, fear is removed from your life! One who is loved by God is protected fiercely by God and has no fear of anything. The same way a child can rest securely in the arms of a parent, so can we rest securely in the love of God despite the challenges and obstacles of this life.
Favored. Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Did you know that God has bestowed favor upon you? As you receive that label and speak it over your life, you receive the benefit of His favor and no good thing will He withhold from you as you walk uprightly!
Blessed. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” The word blessed and its variations appears over 400 times in the Bible. God wants you to know that as He blessed Jabez, He can bless you as well as you receive His label for you.
Poem. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The word “workmanship” literally means a poem. You are God’s masterpiece, His poem! As a composer or poet crafts their masterwork, so did God compose and craft you.
Don’t allow other’s labels to define who you are. Receive His label, as Jabez did, and watch what God is able to do in your life!