Mislabeled

Mislabeled

2 Corinthians 12: ¹⁶ You will agree, then, that I was not a burden to you. But someone will say that I was tricky, and trapped you with lies. ¹⁷ How? Did I take advantage of you through any of the messengers I sent? ¹⁸ I begged Titus to go, and I sent the other believer with him. Would you say that Titus took advantage of you? Do not he and I act from the very same motives and behave in the same way?

 

============

 

After working extremely hard I overheard someone say that I was not a “hard worker” as that guy over there. This statement was very confusing. I had done similar quantities of work with the same quality. This angered me so I spent my time trying to prove them wrong!

 

• I felt I was mislabeled.
• I wanted to get rid of the label because I was now insecure.
• I thought I had something to prove or needed to act different even though I was doing what I was supposed to do.

 

Paul addressed divisiveness. Some people saw the obvious servanthood he brought, while others labeled him a liar. This angered Paul and he had to address the murmurs of those who wanted to say he took advantage of the people.

 

My Observations

• GOD says to me “You will be hated by all for MY name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
• GOD says to me “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for MY sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
• GOD says to me “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

 

Following what GOD says is not easy. I mean, HIS message of true love is met with opposition at every turn. JESUS died for all humans. All we have to do is believe that we need a Savior. Sounds simple. But this simple message is twisted by people who want financial gain or power.

 

They steal the message in hopes to gain power or influence. Mentioning JESUS name is sacred and is to be used to invoke a display of a relationship of surrender. Those who choose to not believe in HIS power may mention HIS name in vain and maybe even use persecuting labels to get their way. I am grateful JESUS makes me secure and allows me to abide in HIM.

 

Challenge

• Do you sense the hurt and disappointment from the writer?
• Have you ever been mislabeled, devalued or brushed off?
• If you are living for CHRIST, do you expect to be persecuted by those who are not living for HIM?
• Will you persevere through the mislabels and allow GOD to draw who HE pleases to HIM in HIS way and HIS timing? 

Assumptive Knowledge

Assumptive Knowledge

John 9: ²⁴ So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”

²⁵ He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

============

It was time to visit a college so I asked everyone to get in the car. I used someone else’s GPS to put in the directions and began driving. After a long while, something seemed wrong. “Let me see that GPS” I said. The volume was down and it was not connected to the car. For over an hour, I did not hear the messages to turn around. I just knew I had done everything right!

• Sometimes my assumptions are wrong.
• Sometimes my assumptions may lead me in the wrong direction.
• Sometimes my assumptions can cost something precious.

“We know that this Man is a sinner” the church leaders assumed about JESUS. They assumed HE was some random guy trying to get their power. They loved their power over the people and would never let anyone threaten their position. They used the name “GOD” but assumed it was not JESUS.

• JESUS wants me to know HE is GOD.
• JESUS wants me to know HE loves me.
• JESUS wants me to know HE is the only one who can save me eternally.

My assumptions about GOD can be wrong at times. I mean when things are not going so well, I may assume HE does not love me. I may also assume I can manipulate GOD by trying to be good after I sinned. GOD is bigger than my sinful actions HIS grace is sufficient to save me and forgive me. I no longer have to assume. I know GOD is for me.

• Do you feel GOD is against you?
• Do you think HE finds pleasure in your pain?
• Will you stop your assumptive thinking and know GOD is the only solution to your problem?

Mislabeled Leadership

John 4: Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— ² although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. ³ So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

============

“Why did you charge me so much for my system?” one person complained to me as I stood on stage. Since I was the leader of the organization that supported the system, it seemed only fitting to personalize the complaint towards me. I wanted to say “The last time I looked, I didn’t get any money for the system you bought” but that wouldn’t go so well with the people above me,

• Many times I have been labeled for things I did not do.
• Many times I had to accept the label because I was the leader.
• Many times I had to assume blame and simply try to make things right.

The church leaders were jealous of JESUS’s popularity. They went so far as to say “JESUS was baptizing people” as if to accuse HIM of not having the authority to do so. JESUS was not baptizing people, rather it was HIS disciples. But if HE did, HE definitely had the authority to do so.

• GOD wants me to accept responsibility for my actions without blaming HIM for my sin.
• GOD wants me to drop any jealousy I may have for someone who is serving the kingdom.
• GOD wants me to rely on HIS word which tells me exactly what HE is doing.

Knowing GOD removes blaming GOD. I mean when I get to know HIM, I understand that HIS motives are only to love me. Belief in this love not only gives me everlasting life, but care and protection in this life. HIS love for me is unsurpassed and that is the correct label I should give Him. GOD, the ultimate love, is my label.

• What are you blaming GOD for now?
• Does blaming GOD enable you to shirk your responsibilities?
• Will you study GOD to understand HIS vast love for you today?

Mislabeled

Luke 10: ¹⁴ And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

============

“Sneaky” was the label I placed on this particular person. I mean they were always caught up in politics and I could sense they were simply using me to keep their power. This person was now on my side and mentioned my performance publicly. They couldn’t just like me for me, right?

• Sometimes I label people to protect myself.
• Sometimes I label people when I cannot explain their actions.
• Sometimes I label people so I can deal with them a certain way.

JESUS had just performed a miracle. HE cast out a demon and healed a mute person. Everyone was amazed except those who placed a negative label on HIM. They called JESUS “The Enemy.”

• GOD wants me to drop my negative labels of HIM.
• GOD wants me to stop thinking HE is out to get me when things are not going the way I want them to.
• GOD wants me to see HIM as my Savior and trust that HE has the best in mind for me.

Placing trust in GOD means I have better labels for HIM. Each day I can see “Mercy”, “Patience”, “Care” and “Forgiveness” if I simply open my eyes and accept HIS love. GOD does care for me even when I mislabel HIM.

• Are you mislabeling GOD?
• Have you forgotten the grace HE has shown you?
• Will you stop labeling people and listen to GOD by serving those who are difficult to serve?

Shame Line

Mark 15: ²⁷ With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. ²⁸ So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”

²⁹ And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰ save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

³¹ Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

============

“You must attend the meeting” said my employment lawyer as she coached me through maximizing the exit package. During the meeting I could hear overt conversations. “Why is he presenting? He won’t be here anyway.” Another said “Maybe he is trying to do a last ditch effort to save his job.”

• There have been times when I have been shamed.
• There have been times when people who once were “with” me, said plenty of words against me.
• There have been times when I could hear the insults and could not even respond.

Powerful people tried to add insult to injury as they looked at JESUS in disgust. GOD was lumped in with the bad guys even though HE committed no sin. Known felons were not insulted, but JESUS was. Even one of the criminals, who was dying right next to JESUS,  hurled insults at HIM.

• JESUS says to me “They will hate you because of ME.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Insults never feel good and I have dished out many. Looking back I have joined in on the shame line to hurl insults at people, maybe not at their face, but in smaller gossipy places. GOD has forgiven so much from me. HE took the shame without cursing as HE said “FATHER forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” I am grateful for HIS shame.

• Are you full of shame right now?
• Have you joined in to shame someone even if it was done in gossip?
• Will you give your shame to GOD, whether you received it or dished it out, today?

Loser

Mark 14: ¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. ¹¹ And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

============

As the newness of this potential boss wore off, I could see some flaws in his leadership style. Instead of helping, I put some “distance” away from his projects. I asked another leader in the department, “Can I work for you?”

• Sometimes I want to bail on a person who is not acting the way I want them to.
• Sometimes I want to leave the person I think is acting opposite of my beliefs.
• Sometimes I want to escape from the person I categorize as a “Loser.”

Judas decided to switch sides. As the political landscape was rapidly changing, Judas may have seen his fame, wealth and glory slipping away. “What a loser” Judas may have thought about JESUS. Since he had the inside track on JESUS, he figured he could simply have JESUS jailed and get some money. What harm could this do?

• GOD says to me “If you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell.”
• GOD says to me “Put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.”
• GOD says to me “Have compassion.”

Impatient labeling is a dangerous practice. GOD wants me to remove my negative labels of people and see them as HE sees them… forgiven. HE wants me to stop judging people and to turn to HIS graceful ways. This is not always easy but it is a practice GOD is pleased with.

• Are you labeling someone?
• Do you place nothing but negative labels on others?
• Can you stop labeling people and start encouraging them to have a wonderful relationship with the LORD?

Correct Description

Mark 3: ²⁰ Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. ²¹ But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

²² And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”

²³ So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶ And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. ²⁷ No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

============

“May I have a glass of water” was my question posed to my aunt. “Sure” she said distractedly as people were pouring into her place for fun and laughter. She went off to take coats to another room and was gone for a while.

I went into the kitchen and saw a chilled glass filled with just the amount I liked. I reached up to the glass on the counter, took a swig and quickly realized it was not water so I cried out! It was vodka.

• Sometimes things appear as the right thing to me.
• Sometimes I misinterpret what is in front of me because of my desires.
• Sometimes I need a clear description.

Mislabeling JESUS was the problem of the Scribes. They tried to call HIM a follower of Satan and the people were going to fall for their deception. JESUS used common sense to correct their trickery. HE gave the right description.

• JESUS says to me “I AM the way, the truth and the life.”
• JESUS says to me “I AM the only way.”
• JESUS says to me “I AM the good shepherd, you are MY sheep.”

“How can I cast out demons if I am a demon?” was the logical question JESUS asked the scribes. With the question, JESUS placed HIMSELF in authority over the demonic world that I am so blind to. HE is GOD and many people have tried to lower HIS authority by explaining away HIS miracles and HIS power. HE wants me to know HE is my Savior.

• Have you mislabeled JESUS?
• Do you think the thing you are doing will save you?
• Will you allow GOD to guide you to the place HE wants you to go?