“You are our letter . . known and read by everybody.” 2 Corinthians 3:2 NIV
“Labels and contents should agree accurately, especially when describing people.”
My thoughts today are about “labels and contents.”
Everyone appreciates people who are for real – neither superficial nor artificial – people who live with clarity and integrity. They know who they are and you find they are what they claim to be. There is a Bible verse that describes Christ-followers this simple way, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Acts 11:26 NKJV. Antioch was a city renowned for its slave auction, where slaves were bought and paid for, marked as belonging to another and bound to another’s will and direction.
Something about those early Christ-followers’ allegiance and obedience to Christ properly defined them as “Christians – belonging to Christ.” It is important to occasionally examine whether that is how others would view our own allegiance and obedience to Christ. Paul settled that issue at his conversion on the Damascus road. Acts 9:3-9 NIV. Years later, Paul described his relationship to Jesus this way: “The Lord . . Whose I am and Whom I serve,” absolute allegiance and total obedience. Acts 27:23 NIV. Would you describe yourself that way? Would others?
Every Christ-follower accepts a sacred trust. It should be true of those who claim the name of Christ that, “what you see is what you get.” But is that always the case? Labels and contents should agree accurately, especially when describing people. “You are our letter . . known and read by everybody.” 2 Corinthians 3:2 NIV. What a label promises, the contents must deliver. Everyday life is such that people seem more surprised when a person or product actually delivers what was promised and expected, than when they don’t. That is sad.
The label should describe the contents accurately. What do you claim for yourself? Don’t ask lower expectations from others; strive for higher achievements. Exceed expectations; determine to give more, do more, and be more than you claim for yourself, and certainly more than others could ever require of you. What you appear to be should be what you truly are.
This is the simplest description of integrity: possessing character and evidencing conduct that match faithfully. When they don’t, correct your character; your conduct will be corrected accordingly. “The integrity of the upright guides them.” Proverbs 11:3 NIV. Character faithfully displays itself in corresponding behavior. We should live sincerely, described to others as Godly examples, “whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their faith.” Hebrews 13:7 NKJV.
Let me redirect my closing thought to how this idea of “labels and contents” might relate to any assessment of others. I am too prone to label others by mere impressions or assumptions about them, rather than finding who they really are. Stereotypes and prejudices result when you label a person, assuming your label correctly describes their content. Don’t draw conclusions about a person before learning the substance of that person’s heart and sincerity. Labeling others is inadvisable; the Bible calls that judging which it forbids. Read Matthew 7:1-5 NIV. Also Romans 14:4 NIV/1 Corinthians 4:5 NLT. Looking into one’s own heart can be a profitable practice.
My prayer for you today is that your character and example reflects Jesus to others.