“THE JESUS LABEL”
OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: Colossians 3 (Focus vs.12–17)
MEMORY VERSE
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Colossians 3:17
BACKGROUND
“Son, I don’t have much to give you. But I do have a good name, so don’t mess it up.” Those wise, weighty words were uttered by Johnnie Bettis as his son Jerome left home for college.
Jerome quoted his father in his American Professional Football Hall of Fame acceptance speech. These sage words that Jerome has carried with him throughout his life have been so influential that he closed his riveting speech with similar words to his own son.
“Son, there’s not much that I can give you that’s more important than our good name.”
A good name is vital for believers in Jesus. Paul’s words in Colossians 3:12–17 remind us who it is that we represent (v. 17). Character is like the clothing that we wear; and this passage puts the “Jesus label” of clothing on display:
“As God’s chosen people . . . clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another. . . . And over all these virtues put on love” (vv. 12–14). These aren’t just our “Sunday clothes.”
We’re to wear them everywhere, all the time, as God works in us to reflect Him. When our lives are characterized by these qualities, we demonstrate that we have His name.
May we prayerfully and carefully represent Him as He provides what we need.
By: Arthur Jackson
INSIGHT
Gratitude is the single theme that unites verses 15–17 of Colossians 3. Without stating specifically what we’re to be thankful for, Paul says that thankfulness to God should characterize our lives.
He concludes verse 15 by saying, “And be thankful.” In verse 16, we’re to lift our voices in song with a grateful heart. And in verse 17, we should give thanks to God in whatever we say or do. Each of these admonitions comes from Greek root word charis, which means “grace.”
Another form of this word means “properly acknowledging that God’s grace works well.” This suggests that all thankfulness is ultimately rooted in God’s grace to us.
The opening verses of this chapter tell us why: we’ve been raised with Jesus, our lives are hidden with Him, and we too will appear with Him when He comes in glory (vv. 1–4). What more reason to be thankful?
APPLICATION
As you evaluate your wardrobe, how “well dressed” are you with Jesus’ character? How can you seek His wisdom, power, and guidance to reflect Him even more clearly?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
To live up to that Name live the Name – pr
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life…” (Philippians 2:14-16)
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (My Re-Emphasis from Post)
“When our lives are characterized by these (Christ-like) qualities, we demonstrate that we have His name.”
*YOUR TAKE? 
PRAYER
“Father, forgive me when I don’t represent Jesus well. Give me strength and courage to be better dressed for Your glory and Christ’s name’s sake.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“REPRESENT” Lecrae
Represent!..Represent!…
If you know you’re repping Jesus
go ahead and throw it up
Represent!…Represent
If you know you’re repping Jesus
go ahead and throw it up…
Throw it up…
I know this might be a shock but,
I’mma blow your spot up
Truthfully in Grace and out of Love,
ain’t trying to pop stuff
Heard ya pops locked up
Baby sister’s knocked up
All your old boys from the block are getting shot up
I feel your pain homey, I got the same story
But since you came to Christ
you got to bring His name Glory
No more living in the darkness,
no more living heartless
‘Cause you got that Holy Spirit
dwelling inside your carcass
Your life’s been changed up, rearranged up
You’ve been reborn and
you don’t have to do the same stuff
You live regenerate,
you get the benefit of Christ crucified
But you got to live in it, God is preeminent
And forgiveness is unlimited…stop and
Represent! …
Represent! …
From the flats to the drops to the (sub)burbs
Calling out to the cats who be dropping the word
Who be representing Christ,
Not ashamed to share his life
Catching flack for his props in the world
To the cats that represent Him well
While putting the Cross on the move
As they reaching for the cats who
Steppin into hell while they flossing new shoes
Packin gats and flossin new coupes
Making hoodrats doin’ the do, acting a fool..
The jigga that figures pullin the trigger
with vigor can make him bigger
needs to get in with the Cox Grave Digger
‘Cause you live a life sin that’s the wages of death
If you livin by the gun that’s the way into debt
But if you living the life and living it right
Put your fist in the sky with all of your might
Til you way out of breath,
chest pumping all hard due to heavy palpitations
Thirsting for the Lord with Heavy salivation
But you ain’t fraud you’ll pull a sinners card
‘Cause you love the Lord and His habit of salvation
Repping like Steven
Getting stoned for the stone you believe in
Or slinging the stone
into the dome of the heathen Philistine men
Represent! …
Represent! …
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (THIS WEEK)
THE BOOK OF II KINGS CHAPTERS 1-7
THE BOOK OF JAMES