Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. I'm Arthur Jackson, and I titled today's

reading, The Jesus Label. 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 Johnny 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 312 to 17 remind us who it is that we represent.

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. 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.

Thank you. as he provides what we need. Join me now as I read today's scripture reading from Colossians chapter 3,

verses 12 to 17.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly love,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

...