Daily Devotional for January 30, 2021
False Labels
Jordyn’s Sunday school class was enjoying a slumber party at her teacher’s cottage. “Sleep well,” said Mrs. Lee when the girls finally began to settle down.
A sleepy-looking bunch of girls assembled around the kitchen table the next morning. “Breakfast is almost ready,” said Mrs. Lee, “so we’ll have a short time of devotions first, and then we’ll eat. We have bacon and eggs, cereal, sweet rolls—quite a variety this morning.” She pointed to some of the things already on the table. “And be sure to try some of my delicious homemade strawberry jam!” she added as she held up a large glass jar.
“Jam!” exclaimed Jordyn. “That’s a jar of pickles!”
“Pickles?” Mrs. Lee looked surprised. Ignoring the green pickles in the jar, she pointed to the label. “Right here it says strawberry jam.”
“That’s what the label says,” said Isobel, “but there are pickles inside the jar, not jam!”
Mrs. Lee smiled. “You’re right, of course.” She looked at the girls around the table. “I hope none of you are like this jar.”
The girls were puzzled. “How would we be like that jar of pickles?” Isobel asked.
“Like this jar, you might be wearing a false label,” said Mrs. Lee. “Most of you wear the label ‘Christian.’ I know that in many ways you walk and talk like a Christian, and that’s good. However, just like a jar of strawberry jam must have jam inside, what must a Christian have?”
“A Christian must have Jesus Christ!” said Jordyn. “That’s like the Bible verse we memorized last week. It says if we have God’s Son—Jesus—we have life.”
“Good!” Mrs. Lee nodded. “We can’t look inside anyone to see if they have Jesus in their heart and life, but God can. He knows each and every one of His children—those who have put their faith in Jesus. Are you one of them?” She paused for a moment. “We’ll be leaving to go home after breakfast, but if anyone here is wearing a false label, please see me before you go. I’d like to help you make sure the inside matches the label. Now, let’s pray, and then we’ll eat.”
Quietly, the girls bowed their heads. • Hazel W. Marett
How about you?
Do you call yourself a Christian? Saying you’re a Christian does not make you one. To be a Christian, you must trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Believe that He died for you, that He rose again, and that He will forgive your sins if you trust in Him. When you admit your sin and trust in Jesus, He will give you eternal life. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)
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