Hello My Name Is: (fill in the blank)

It's Tuesday, and I should be preparing for tomorrow. Tomorrow night is church, and I should probably be working on my message by now, but there's just one thing I have in my mind; those name badges! You know the one's I'm talking about... they're white with a red stripe across the top that reads Hello, My Name Is.

Why is it that we're so obsessed with labels and tags? As I turn to the scriptures, I find example after example of what Jesus thought about labels. A bleeding woman. Poor, destitute, known by all! Labeled unclean, surrounded by a people that were probably prone to point and stare just a little too long. When Jesus meets her though, he sees none of that. Of course the first time he looks into her face, she's already been healed. But none the less... he knew! She was different, she had been changed. A pair of blind beggars. A duo that the people had grown weary of no doubt. After all, they were defiled, cursed, unclean, and loud to boot! The crowd tried to silence them. No doubt they were pushed around and mocked. But Jesus saw something the crowd couldn't. He saw their hearts. He knew their true lineage. A man of leprosy. An outcast with a bell around his neck. A man forced to leave his family behind. A man living a life of solitude no doubt... kneels before Jesus. And all Jesus sees is a beautiful child of God!

All these men and women knew what the others thought . No doubt they had probably even begun to label themselves as well. But all that changed with the power of a touch from Jesus!

I wonder. How do you fill in the blank? What name or description is on your label? Adulterer, Thief, Gossip, Liar? How does the world view you, and perhaps more importantly, how do you view yourself?

Would you like to be different? Would you like to be changed? Would you like to get rid of all the ridiculous "tags" that have stuck to you over the years? Then cry out to Jesus. Reach out your hand. And let the savior touch you today! He sees past the label, past the hurt, past the fear, embarrassment, and shame. He sees one that he's created and made to be beautiful, clean, right, and restored. Be amazed today at the power of His touch!