I’ve been in the habit of looking at the back of food labels as I grocery shop. Becoming more health conscious in this season of life, if I see high fructose corn syrup, it goes right back on the shelf. If there is a never-ending list of words I can’t pronounce, it probably needs to go back, too. Even in life, there are a lot of additives we don’t need. Sometimes, less is more. There’s no need to add when you’re already filled with God’s good things.

Yet, do I look for more to add? My soul is reminded to look and listen for the truth. Focus on what is truly good for you. Think about those good things.

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

I find myself so much closer to Jesus when thinking about such things. I hear the voice of Jesus rather than the voice of the world. The world tries hard to add unnecessary things we don’t need. The enemy would love nothing more for us to think about lies and believe them. They are artificial additives that keep us from growing.

As we pursue the truth of Jesus, we become filled beyond measure. We become filled with unspeakable love. And so much so that we don’t look for the additives of man or anything from this world. And we don’t look for other things to add to fulfill us.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Our Father God, the God of hope, will fill us as we entrust everything to His care. Not only are we filled with hope, but we will also overflow with hope. As we overflow, there is no need for additives.

And I pray that you, being rooted and and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17b-19

Christ’s deep love for you surpasses anything others may try to add to your life. As we entrust everything to Jesus, sifting out the unnecessary and often unhealthy additives offered by this world, the overflowing goodness of God fills us. His love surpasses everything.

I don’t want the additives. Artificial words from people of the world rather than our Father God will not fill us.

Perhaps you look at the labels when you grocery shop, too. In the beautiful lives God has given us, may we also look at the labels of our lives.

Do the labels speak truth that you will be filled with good things? Those are the ones we want to pick up. The labels with all the additives can stay put.

While it may seem like we need to add to have more, we have so much more when we choose the simple truth of the Gospel. If we labeled this life with Jesus, I imagine it would just have this one word on the back of the label: Love.

Love. That is all we need to be fulfilled: the perfect love of Christ.