Change My Label – Part 1

Genesis 25:24-26 “When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.”

Pastor Phil continues in the Sunday Worship Sermon series “God of the Underdogs” and this weeks Bible character Jacob (which meaning literally “heal-catcher”, but also "to supplant”, “under-cutter, “usurper” or “deceiver”) and his name-change by God to Israel (which means “he will rule as God”). God is willing to change our label or name, if we wrestle with him. We need to be challenged Him. Do we realize that God wants to change our label?

As a child of God, we have God’s name upon us, which covers our needs. But, life is complicated and our society is quick to label anyone and everyone. We live in a world fixated on labels. Every one of us has been given labels at different points in life. Most of them are placed on us by others. Some are deliberate. Others are inadvertent. Some are positive, but some are negative, mean or demeaning, and some are downright evil. And for many of us, no matter how hard we try, we just can’t shake them. It is hard to get rid of those labels. Maybe you've played the other side. Ever labeled someone else? It might have been accidental or innocent, but I’m willing to bet each of us has been the giver of a label at some point. Never underestimate the power of a label. The labels we wear shape who we become. You know what it is to have a label placed on you and to have it define you.

Genesis 32:24-28 “Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob. He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”

Our Patriarch Jacob couldn't get past himself. He was trying to deceive and manipulate God. He was living up to the label placed on him. At the end of all his scheming and deceiving, Jacob knew deep down what he needed most was God. Because we serve a God who is bigger than any label that’s been placed on us, there’s hope for us. Even if there’s truth to our label. We must know that we serve a God who is able to remove the labels that have fixed themselves to our lives. Jacob was so desperate that he held on to God and would not let go. Are you willing to wrestle? Are we willing to do the hard work of pressing in to Him like we never have before? Are we willing to hold on to Him? It has to be Jesus, not us. Cry out to God to change your name, “Lord it has to be you! Change my label”. Are we finished with making excuses and walking in defeat and doubt and discouragement? Are we willing to lay down the security and comfort that lives inside labels of your past and take up the new label? 

Let's continue this tomorrow with part #2 of Change My Label.

In Christ, Brian