Barcode Christianity

Shopping! Some of my fondest memories of my mother are those of our Saturday shopping trips. She would always make a fun, long day (we wouldn’t stop until the stores closed), but fun.  I remember during my middle school shopping years, I began to understand the differences in labels. Whether on people or on clothes, labels ultimately change perspectives and opinions as they impact value.

I recently read an article from Christianity Today regarding labels and consumerism. The author quoted the philosopher Baudrillard stating, “Consumption is a system of meaning.”  The author continued by saying, “We assign value to ourselves and others based on the goods we purchase. One’s identity is now constructed by the clothes you wear, the vehicle you drive, and the music on your iPod. In short, you are what you consume.”

“…for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Luke 6:45 (ESV)

Do you know what the label of your shirt says regarding the materials and fabric used to create it? What percentage of your shirt is cotton or polyester?  Girls, I don’t either; I don’t have a clue. However, I do know that I like the outside of my shirt. I like the color, the design, and the feel of the fabric; I like how it fits my body.

Barcode Christianity: Determining what we are made of.

“For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel: 16:7b (ESV)

As believers, what are we wearing? Do we wear our Fruit of the Spirit tee with the label that says we are 40% Patience, 20% Joy, 35% Peace and 5% Goodness? We may choose to only wear that shirt on Sunday or Wednesday when we go to Bible study. Maybe we wear it when we go out to eat with our church friends. Do we design our fashion sense around the culture and what is acceptable according to the world’s standards or what we personally like to wear?

If I am being transparent, when I put on my Fruit of the Spirit tee,  the label wouldn’t list all of the fruit, only a few. Unfortunately, at times in my spiritual walk, I chose not to wear any Jesus attire.  However, if our heart truly desires to produce Fruit of the Spirit, we must discipline ourselves to maintain the talk and the walk.

Becoming a Better Jesus Girl is more than wearing the label. It truly is about what you are made of on the inside. What you pour inside your heart and mind always comes out. When we are intentional in filling our minds and our hearts with truth, it overflows out of our mouths and into our actions (Luke 6:45).

God sees our heart not the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). God sees us just as we are, and He STILL loves us, He STILL calls us into ministry, and He STILL continues to prompt us to walk in a manner worthy of that calling.

Agape Love: That type of love is so hard for my flesh to understand and comprehend. God doesn’t just love, HE IS LOVE (1 John 4:8). He knows our label. He searches us and knows us. He knows when we sit down and when we stand up. He is aware of all our ways and loves us enough to send Jesus to prepare the Way for us to spend eternity with Him. It’s hard sometimes for me to comprehend the goodness of our God. He truly is a good, good Father.

We must continue to daily scan our spiritual barcodes (Ephesians 4:1). The barcodes of our hearts, our minds, our speech, and our behavior must be based upon God’s righteousness, expectations and standards. God provided each of us with 66 scanners beginning in Genesis and ending in Revelation.

Read God’s Word.
Pray.
Do.
Repeat.

Spiritual Disciplines: Every day we must look at our own label and see where we are in our spiritual walk?  Our spiritual maturity is determined by our intimacy with God through reading of His Word and spending time with Him in prayer.

Transparency: Recognizing what we are made of and then begin exchanging the old with the new.

“…to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through
deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self,
created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24(ESV)

Every day.

Ladies, Debbie and I are walking this journey with you. We are daily scanning our barcodes, exchanging the old with the new. We are so thankful that we can link arms to encourage one another.

Time to Unfold

• • Read God’s Word: Discover who God is; understand what He is made of.
  • Pray: Discuss with the Lord what fabrics you are wearing and daily practice exchanging the old with the new.
  • Do: Become transparent with other Jesus Girls, encouraging others with the truth he has revealed within your own barcode.
  • Repeat

This week, leave us a message about how God is working within your life as you become more transparent with Him. Let us know how you are putting off the old and exchanging it with the new.

Scanning my barcode with you,