Label of Love

Bible Reading: John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:16-18

“Back so soon?” Mom asked as Phoebe came in with a bag of groceries. “Did you find the tomato sauce all right?”

“Sure did. And look what else I bought.” Phoebe took several cans out of the bag. “These were really cheap because the labels are gone. I saved you lots of money.”

Mom frowned. “But we don’t know what they are!” She laughed. “All right. Choose one for dinner tonight. Whatever it turns out to be, you’ll have to eat some, okay? You buy it, you eat it!”

“Okay!” Phoebe said. “It’ll be fun!” She looked over the array of unlabeled cans and set one aside for dinner. “I think it’s corn,” she said.

At dinner that evening, Phoebe’s brother Torin wrinkled his nose as he sat down. “What’s that smell?”

Mom set a bowl on the table. “It’s sauerkraut. Phoebe chose it for us tonight. I hope you like it.” She laughed at the dismayed look on Phoebe’s face. “You go first, Phoebe. Try to leave enough for us!”

Dad laughed when he heard the story of the unlabeled cans, and he took a large serving of the sauerkraut. “Well, I’m glad you bought this. I haven’t had it in years. I love sauerkraut!” But after tasting it, Phoebe and Torin didn’t agree.

“I wonder what else I bought,” Phoebe said, looking worried. “No wonder that stuff was so cheap!”

For family devotions that night, Dad handed everyone a Bible. “As we’ve learned, labels are important,” he said. “Christians have labels too. One is found in John 13:34-35. Who can tell me what it is?”

Phoebe and Torin scrambled to see who could find it first. “I’ve got it!” said Phoebe. “It’s love.”

“Right,” said Dad. “God says people should be able to see that we are Christians by our label of love. Our actions and attitudes toward others should reflect the love Jesus has shown us.”

“Phoebe, you should take another helping of this sauerkraut,” Torin said with a smirk. “That would be showing us your label of love, because then we won’t have to eat so much of it.” When Phoebe frowned, he laughed and took a bit more himself. “I’m just kidding. I think it’s growing on me,” he said, and Phoebe giggled. – Hazel Marett

How About You?

Do people see love in the way you treat them? Or do you have a habit of putting people down, making fun of them, or ignoring them? Those are not ways to show others that you belong to Jesus. As Christians, we need to reflect the love He has shown us by being kind, honest, and forgiving. Put on your label of love so everyone can see that you belong to Jesus.

Today’s Key Verse:
1 John 3:18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Love is action