Beyond Labels: Embracing Our True Identity in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Desperation Drives Us to Jesus

In moments of desperation, societal labels lose their power over us. The woman in Luke 7, labeled as a sinner, was driven by her need for Jesus to the point where she ignored the judgmental stares and whispers of those around her. Her desperation for forgiveness and healing led her to anoint Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, an act of humility and sacrifice. This story reminds us that when we are truly desperate for God's presence, the labels society places on us become insignificant. Our focus shifts from what others think to what God can do in our lives. [12:44]

Luke 7:37-38 (ESV): "And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt desperate for God's presence. How did that desperation change your perspective on the labels others placed on you? How can you seek Jesus with the same desperation today?

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Day 2: Jesus Sees Beyond Labels

Jesus looks beyond the labels that society and we ourselves place on us. In the story of the immoral woman and Simon the Pharisee, Simon saw only a sinner, but Jesus saw a woman who was expressing her love and repentance. Jesus' ability to see beyond our labels and recognize our true selves and potential in Him is a powerful reminder of His grace. He does not define us by our worst moments but by our capacity for transformation and love. [16:08]

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.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a label you or others have placed on you. How does knowing that Jesus sees beyond this label change your self-perception? How can you begin to see others through Jesus' eyes?

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Day 3: All Labels Are Inferior to Jesus' Love

No matter what labels we carry, they are all inferior to the love of Jesus. His love levels the playing field, making us all equal in need of His grace. The societal status or personal failures that often define us in the eyes of others do not hold any weight in the eyes of Jesus. His love and grace are the ultimate equalizers, reminding us that we are all in need of His mercy and forgiveness. [20:04]

Galatians 3:28 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Consider a label that has made you feel inferior or superior to others. How does understanding that Jesus' love makes all labels inferior change your view of yourself and others? How can you live out this truth in your daily interactions?

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Day 4: The Only Label That Matters is Jesus'

The label Jesus gives us is the only one that truly matters. He replaces our labels of sin and failure with labels of forgiveness and love. When others see a sinner, Jesus sees someone forgiven and loved. This transformative power of Jesus' love redefines our identity, making us chosen, royal, and holy. Embracing this new identity allows us to live in the freedom and purpose that Jesus offers. [23:14]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: What label has Jesus given you that you need to embrace more fully? How can you remind yourself daily of this new identity and live in the freedom it brings?

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Day 5: Living Beyond Labels

We are called to live beyond the labels placed on us by society, others, and even ourselves. Jesus' sacrifice redefines our identity, making us chosen, royal, and holy. This new identity in Christ calls us to live in the freedom and purpose He has given us, shedding the labels that once bound us. Embracing this new identity allows us to live out our faith boldly and authentically, reflecting the transformative power of Jesus' love to those around us. [34:40]

Colossians 3:10-11 (ESV): "And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all."

Reflection: What societal or personal labels do you need to shed to fully embrace your new identity in Christ? How can you live out this new identity in a way that reflects Jesus' transformative love to those around you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the concept of labels and how they influence our perceptions and interactions with others. We live in a society obsessed with brands and labels, often using them to determine the value of products and, unfortunately, people. This tendency to label extends to our personal lives, where we quickly judge others based on superficial markers rather than their true character.

We examined the story from Luke 7:36-50, where Jesus dines with a Pharisee named Simon. An immoral woman, desperate for forgiveness, interrupts the meal to anoint Jesus' feet with expensive perfume. Despite her sinful reputation, Jesus sees beyond her label and acknowledges her act of love and repentance. Simon, on the other hand, is quick to judge her based on societal labels, failing to recognize his own need for forgiveness.

Desperation can drive us to ignore the labels society places on us, as seen in the woman's bold approach to Jesus. Jesus' parable about the two debtors illustrates that all of us, regardless of the magnitude of our sins, are in need of God's mercy. The labels we place on ourselves and others are inferior to the transformative love of Jesus, who sees us not for our worst moments but for our potential in Him.

The story of Tony Campolo throwing a birthday party for a prostitute further emphasizes the importance of seeing people through the eyes of Jesus, who values every individual beyond their societal labels. Just as Jesus redefined the woman's identity from "sinner" to "forgiven," we are called to shed the labels that bind us and embrace the identity Jesus offers us.

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Key Takeaways

1. Desperation Overcomes Labels: Desperation can drive us to seek Jesus regardless of the labels society places on us. The woman in Luke 7 ignored her label as a sinner because her need for Jesus was greater. When we are desperate for God's presence, societal labels lose their power over us. [12:44]
2. Jesus Sees Beyond Labels: Jesus looks beyond the labels that society and we ourselves place on us. He sees our true selves and our potential in Him. The Pharisee Simon labeled the woman as a sinner, but Jesus saw her act of love and repentance. [16:08]
3. All Labels Are Inferior to Jesus' Love: No matter what labels we carry, they are all inferior to the love of Jesus. His love levels the playing field, making us all equal in need of His grace. Our societal status or personal failures do not define us in His eyes. [20:04]
4. The Only Label That Matters is Jesus': The label Jesus gives us is the only one that truly matters. He replaces our labels of sin and failure with labels of forgiveness and love. When others see a sinner, Jesus sees someone forgiven and loved. [23:14]
5. Living Beyond Labels: We are called to live beyond the labels placed on us by society, others, and even ourselves. Jesus' sacrifice redefines our identity, making us chosen, royal, and holy. We should embrace this new identity and live in the freedom it brings. [34:40]
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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:01] - Society's Obsession with Brands
[01:44] - Personal Story: The Alligator Shirt
[03:56] - The Power of Labels
[06:10] - Labels in Consumerism vs. People
[07:42] - Luke 7:36-50: The Immoral Woman
[10:08] - Desperation Overcomes Labels
[12:44] - Humility and Sacrifice
[15:36] - Simon's Judgment
[17:16] - Jesus' Parable of the Two Debtors
[20:04] - All Labels Are Inferior to Jesus' Love
[23:14] - The Only Label That Matters
[24:07] - Tony Campolo's Story
[29:47] - Jesus Looks Beyond Labels
[34:40] - Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
[41:28] - Invitation to the Altar

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the reaction of the Pharisee Simon when the immoral woman anointed Jesus' feet with perfume? ([15:36])
How did Jesus respond to Simon's judgmental thoughts about the woman? ([17:16])
What actions did the woman take to show her repentance and love for Jesus? ([14:30])
What parable did Jesus tell Simon, and what was its main point? ([17:49])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Simon was quick to judge the woman based on her societal label? How does this reflect our own tendencies to judge others? ([15:36])
In the parable of the two debtors, what does the forgiveness of debts symbolize, and how does it relate to the woman's actions? ([17:49])
How does Jesus' interaction with the woman challenge the societal norms and labels of that time? ([16:08])
What does the story of Tony Campolo throwing a birthday party for a prostitute illustrate about seeing people through the eyes of Jesus? ([24:07])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt labeled by society or others. How did it affect your self-perception and actions? How can you seek Jesus' perspective on your true identity? ([30:56])
Jesus saw beyond the woman's label and acknowledged her act of love and repentance. How can you practice seeing beyond the labels of others in your daily interactions? ([16:08])
The woman in Luke 7 was driven by desperation to seek Jesus despite societal labels. Is there an area in your life where you need to overcome societal labels to seek Jesus more earnestly? ([12:44])
Jesus' love and forgiveness redefined the woman's identity. How can you embrace the identity Jesus offers you, shedding any negative labels you or others have placed on you? ([23:14])
Tony Campolo's story emphasizes the importance of showing kindness and love to those labeled by society. Identify one person in your life who is often judged by societal labels. What specific action can you take this week to show them the love of Jesus? ([24:07])
How can you cultivate a community or church environment that sees beyond labels and embraces the identity Jesus offers to everyone? ([29:47])
Reflect on the labels you might have placed on others, consciously or unconsciously. What steps can you take to change your perspective and actions towards them? ([06:58])

Sermon Clips

1. "We make decisions about people based on the labels that society has. And society places on them very quickly. We see people, and we decide whether they are saved or lost, whether they have value or whether they are worthless, whether they deserve your attention or whether they're a waste of your time, all based on the labels that we have put on them. Sometimes we make decisions based on how others have labeled people, and sometimes we go and label them ourselves when we see them." [06:10] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Desperation will make you forget about your label. The intrusion of this woman was intolerable to the respectable Pharisee because of her sinful and evil reputation and because she was not an invited guest. Whenever a Pharisee or an upstanding person in the community would give a party such as this one, there would be people that would gather around the house on the outer courts of the house because they had open windows, and they would listen to the communication and the conversations that were being taken place of those that were more affluent." [13:17] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The label Jesus gives is the only one that matters. Notice what happens. What happens next? Verse 48. It says, Then Jesus said to the woman, Your sins are forgiven. Jesus did what he does best. He removes a label and replaces it with a better one. See, she had the label of sinner but Jesus took the sign off that said sinner and put forgiven across it. When others saw a sinner, when others saw someone undeserving, Jesus simply saw someone who needed him and he gave her a new label." [23:14] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When Jesus sees us, he doesn't see us defined by our worst day. He doesn't see us defined by our mistakes and our failures. He doesn't see us labeled by our shortcomings or our inadequacies or our faults. When Jesus sees us, he sees the completed picture. He sees us not as we were. Not even as we are. He sees us as what we can become if he gets his opportunity to mold and shape our life. And at the end of the day, the label you have for me, the label I put on myself, those labels really don't matter. The only label that matters is the one Jesus puts on me." [33:11] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So when others see worthless, he sees priceless. When others see broken, he sees someone he's putting back together. When others sees me struggle, he sees an overcomer. When others sees an addict, he sees someone set free. When others see somebody who's unlovable, he loves me anyway. When others see a nobody in him, I'm somebody. When others see a degenerate, he sees a new creature in Christ. When others see a sinner, all he sees is forgiven." [34:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Regardless of our label, when it comes to our eternity, compared to the righteousness of God, we fall short. We all find ourselves staring up at the cross in need of a savior to bring us close to him. It doesn't matter how righteous you may feel, how holy or how much you may endeavor to claim to be, when standing before the holiness of God, we all find ourselves on a lower level of the ladder than where he is. Can you say amen? I said in first service, we're all wearing dragon shirts, no matter how much you wanted it to be an alligator. It's insufficient or inferior to the holiness of God." [20:04] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Desperation will cause us to ignore our label. When you are consumed by desperation, you don't care what the label says. If you're hungry enough, you don't care what brand it is. I remember, I remember, our pediatrician used to tell us all the time, if he gets hungry enough, he'll eat. And we'd open up like 35 jars of food trying to find the right one. If you get hungry enough, you'll eat. You don't care if it's coming from McDonald's, if it's coming from Burger King, or if it's coming from the Piggly Wiggly. You do not care. If you're hungry enough, you'll eat." [12:09] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "We are sinners saved by a grace of an almighty, amazing God. Matter of fact, Romans 3.23 says this way. Everyone has sinned. We all fall short of God's glorious, God has a standard here. Most of us are going to be way down here. We're just trying to bump up against it, right? Because we fall short. So with that in mind, my second point is this. All labels are inferior when compared to the love of Jesus. No matter what label's been put on your life, whether you put it on yourself or someone else, every label in life is inferior when it's compared to the love of Jesus that's been shed abroad in our hearts." [19:29] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "I don't think Jesus saw her as a prostitute, but he saw her as one that he died for. I don't think he saw her as somebody who was living a bad life. I think he saw her as somebody that he had died for and wanted her to live a better life. See, I think sometimes we get so caught up in the labels that people have on their life that we fail to realize that every labeled person is still one more that Jesus died for. It's still one more that Jesus is reaching for. It's still one more that we have a responsibility to take Jesus to." [29:47] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "I don't care what the label is today. It cannot define me because Jesus dropped the charges. Jesus defines my life. He's the one that I'm going to respond to and answer to. His label's the only one that really matters. You know, there are characters in the Bible that the church has kind of done a disservice to. Well-intentioned Sunday school teachers trying to help us remember the Bible. Remember, stories put labels on characters of the Bibles that define them by the worst thing in their life, the worst day of their life. I don't want my life to be defined by my worst day, and I don't think you do either." [30:56] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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