According To The Label

According to the Label

(Read 1 Peter 2:9-12)

Amy wanted a new pair of jeans, but she wouldn’t settle for just any kind. “They have to be one of the popular name brands, or I don’t want them!” she declared.

“Let’s look in Conrad’s,” Mother suggested. “They have nice jeans, and they’re reasonably priced, too.”

“I don’t want to go in there! Nobody wears those jeans,” stormed Amy.

“Someone must wear them or they wouldn’t be selling,” Mother said. “I’m sorry, but it’s either Conrad’s or you’ll have to buy the name brands yourself.” Amy didn’t want to buy jeans with her own money, but Mother was firm. So Amy reluctantly spent most of her savings on a pair of name-brand jeans.

Amy gloried in the many compliments she received when she wore her new jeans. But after they were washed, they didn’t look the same! “Mom, what happened to my jeans?” gasped Amy. “Just look at them! They’re all limp and baggy looking! I paid a lot for these. They should have lived up to their name and lasted a long time.”

“I know. I followed the washing instructions carefully,” Mother said, “but they just didn’t hold up well. Maybe if you take them back to the store, they’ll be able to make some adjustment. In any case, I hope you’ve learned something from this experience.”

“Like what?” Amy said, pouting.

“Things don’t always live up to their label,” answered Mother. “People don’t either.”

“People? What do they have to do with this?” asked Amy.

“We who are Christians need to live up to our name and act Christlike and loving toward others,” Mother explained.

Amy felt guilty. Just that morning she had whispered unkind things about a classmate who was wearing new jeans from Conrad’s. “It’s easy to want the label of popularity,” added Mother. “But with God’s help we can live up to our ‘name brand’—Christian!” JLH

HOW ABOUT YOU?

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are called a Christian. Are you living up to that name?

Live like a Christian

MEMORIZE:

“It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.” Acts 11:26