Brand Names
BRAND NAMES
Read Ephesians 4:24-32.
Stacy and her friend Valerie ran to the window of a store in the mall. “Mom, hurry!” Stacy pleaded. “Look at this outfit! Could I have that for my birthday?”
“I don’t know,” Mom answered. “It’s a bit expensive. And really, I think it looks a little too grown up for you.”
“I love it!” Stacy exclaimed. “Everyone’s wearing shirts like that.”
“The jeans are great too,” Valerie added.
“Yeah,” agreed Stacy. “Everyone at school wears that brand. Oh, please, Mom!”
Mom frowned. “I’ve seen jeans at the discount store that look just as nice.”
Stacy wailed, “I don’t want those. Everyone would know they were the cheap kind.”
“Well,” said Mom, “the stores are closing, so we won’t get any jeans today.” As they drove home, Mom said, “Girls, the names on clothing labels seem so important to you. Yet you wear a name much more important than the one on any pair of jeans.”
“What do you mean, Mom?” asked Stacy.
“Since you have trusted in Christ to save you,” Mom explained, “you wear Christ’s name—the name Christian. Brand names are really advertisements, and our lives should advertise for Jesus. I wonder, girls, can your friends tell that you wear Christ’s name?”
“Wow!” Stacy exclaimed. “I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it that way.”
“Me either,” Valerie agreed. “That’s awesome—we wear the most important name of all!”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If so, you belong to Him. As Christ’s follower, you are known by His name—you are called a Christian. Let others see by your words and actions that you belong to God. Let your life be a pleasing advertisement for Christ.
TO MEMORIZE:
Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30
CHRISTIAN IS YOUR LABEL.
From the book
