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“Lord’s Answers Believe Everyday Lovingly!” (L.A.B.E.L)

Publisher
Ramesh C. Reddy

SCRIPTURE:
“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17, NIV)

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what the man does.
1. A man ran up to Jesus.
2. A man fell on his knees before Jesus.
3. A man says to Jesus, “Good teacher”
4. A man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself the significance of the man saying, “Good teacher”?

It is very significant because Jesus lived His life in such a way that there is no other way to describe Him except GOOD. Not only that, but the man must have listened to Jesus’ teachings and realized that He is a good teacher. Yet, in Jesus’ teachings, I don’t think the man ever heard Jesus talk about eternal life. So, now he wants to know.

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what the implications for my own life are here?

Just as a man called Jesus, ‘Good teacher’, I need to live my life in such a way that only good can be used to describe me. I also need to teach whoever the Lord wants me to teach that only good would describe the teaching. I also need to realize that living a good life cannot be done apart from the Spirit of the Living God. Only when the Spirit indwells within me and I walk by the Spirit, I will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If anyone chooses to call me good, I should not take the credit; they should be pointed to Christ and Christ alone.

I ASK YOU NOW:
I ask you now, dear friend, what label do you get in life?
Dear friend, the label you get in life is determined by the way you live your life. There are only two ways to live your life. You can live your life as a good person or a bad person. The label you get is determined by those who know you. It can also be very subjective. People outside your home may perceive you as a good person, but those who know you closely can see you in a different light. It is all determined by behavior. On the outside, if people admire your behavior, you can be perceived as good, but on the inside, if people dislike your behavior, you can be seen as bad. What this tells us is that how we live our lives determines the label we get.

Not only that, but it is determined by the one who labels it. A human being can see you as good because he only sees your outward behavior, which is seen as good to him from his perspective. What is considered good by one person can be perceived as bad by another. Take the example of men in women’s sports. If you ask a transgender person who wants men in women’s sports, they will say that it is good behavior to have men in women’s sports. But if you ask a woman who wants only women in women’s sports, they would say it is bad behavior to have men in women’s sports. The person responsible for having men in women’s sports can be seen as a bad person. The person responsible for not having men in women’s sports can be seen as a good person. So, just because someone calls someone a good person, it does not necessarily make them a good person. Just because someone calls someone a bad person does not make them a bad person.

For example, if you disobeyed all the Ten Commandments, then Satan can see you as a good person in his eyes because your behavior reflects what Satan’s standards are and what Satan wants for your life. Now, if you even disobeyed one commandment, then the Lord can see you as a bad person in His eyes because your behavior does not reflect God’s standards. 

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." (James 2:10, NIV)

So, the label you get in life is determined by those who want to label you. It will not always be accurate, even when they describe you using a word such as ‘good’. In their mind, you can be good, such as in Satan’s mind, but what about in God’s mind?

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” (Romans 3:10-20, NIV)

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.” (Isaiah 64:6-7, NIV)

To be continued….

May you realize that only the label the Lord gives you counts, because just as God’s Word is the Pittsburgh Standard for Living, it should be all our standard for living.

“Lord’s Answers Believe Everyday Lovingly!” (L.A.B.E.L)/” What L.A.B.E.L do you get in life?”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching me to reflect on what is good. Oh Lord, I realized that even though the label 'good' is subjective and is determined by the one who gives it. Oh Lord, when I am labeled good, I want that label to be because it conforms to your Word. Help us, Oh Lord, to make your Word our standard for living. Your Word is the Pittsburgh Standard for living for me and my family. I pray your Word will be the standard for living for this world. What we see as good can be bad in your eyes. What we see as bad can be seen as good in your eyes. We need your absolute standard to live our lives. Help us, Oh Lord God of our Salvation. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I  struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me too. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help!

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