Reputation

Reputation

Philippians 1: ²⁷ Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel. 

 

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Trying to fit in was not easy. It seemed like the “in” crowd had a mysterious criteria that I never could meet. I decided to do what “they” were doing so I could be accepted. Maybe I could get a “good” reputation by being in the right crowd..

 

• I wanted to be known by association.
• I wanted to be part of a group who other people admired.
• I wanted to be seen as I saw other people.

 

Paul wanted to see the people he wrote to. He knew everyone would act “nice”  in his presence, but what about when he was not there? He gives everyone instructions to live “as the Gospel requires” whether he was there or not.

 

My Observations

• Character is what GOD looks at in me.
• GOD sees what I do when I am alone, or in a crowd.
• My heart will shape my reputation.

 

“Standing firm” and “fighting together for the faith of the gospel” are two important elements of a reputation GOD wants me to have. I mean, the “in” crowd may have a reputation that is counter to the faith in CHRIST at times and other times it aligns with it. This wavering is not “firm.”

 

Each day the world throws another challenge that faith in GOD could easily solve. Unfortunately, reputations become more important than serving HIM and praising HIM in public. GOD wants my reputation to be aligned with HIS so others may know I serve HIM. I am glad to give up a popular reputation and to be known as a servant of GOD.

 

Challenge

• What is the way of life the writer is speaking of?
• Have you ever heard “your reputation proceeds you?”
• What kind of reputation would you like to have?
• Will you serve CHRIST sincerely so others may know HIM through you today?

Broken Mirror

Broken Mirror

Romans 12: ⁴ We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. ⁵ In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. ⁶ So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; ⁷ if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.

 

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Preserving some of my junk in the move, I wrapped a mirror in newspaper to protect it. I placed the mirror in a box with books because it seemed like a perfect fit. Somewhere in transport, the mirror broke. Since it was still in the frame, I used it. I learned how to navigate the cracks for different purposes.

 

• There have been many times when I pondered my purpose.
• There have been many times when I wondered if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.
• There have been many times when I questioned my purpose compared to another person’s purpose.

 

Paul tries to convince everyone to use their gifts and talents for the LORD. He eludes to the fact that some people are gifted one way and others are gifted another. Each person has a gift that they can do extremely well and it should be used for GOD.

 

• GOD wants me to use the gifts and talents HE gave me to serve HIM.
• GOD wants me to know I am not gifted in all ways, so I need other people.
• GOD wants me to be in union with others so together, we can make one body, which is CHRIST.

 

When the first human sinned, every human fell to GOD’s discipline. Every human became a sinner. We used to be made in GOD’s perfect image but fell to pieces, individually reflecting GOD, one tiny fragment at a time. My reflection is only part of one huge mirror that attempts to show GOD.

 

My fragment is no more or less important that another. It takes GOD to pick up the broken mirror and put it together to make something that can reflect HIM. HE fuses the broken pieces together so the entirety can be used. I am grateful GOD takes my tiny faith and connects it to other broken people.

 

• Do you think your gift is not valuable?
• Do you feel less than other people?
• Will you stop looking at other people and allow GOD to show you your gift and talent so you can use it to glorify HIM today?

It is About You

 

It is About You

Romans 10: ⁵ Moses wrote this about being put right with God by obeying the Law: “Whoever obeys the commands of the Law will live.” ⁶ But what the scripture says about being put right with God through faith is this: “You are not to ask yourself, Who will go up into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down). ⁷ “Nor are you to ask, Who will go down into the world below?” (that is, to bring Christ up from death). ⁸ What it says is this: “God's message is near you, on your lips and in your heart”—that is, the message of faith that we preach. 

 

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Cruising at a very nice speed, I was beating everybody on the road. When I was pulled over, I quickly thought of my defense. “What about them?” I asked, not knowing where I was going with that argument. “Yes, they are speeding, but it is you who was caught speeding.”

 

• When I am in trouble I want other people to go down with me.
• When I am caught doing wrong, I want a group to be caught with me.
• When I want something that someone else has, I question, “Why them and not me?”

 

Paul tries to address a seriously diseased way of thinking. “Will that person go to heaven or hell?”” was the type of questioning that could get any human in trouble. Paul then gives the best alternative. Speak for yourself.

 

• GOD wants me to hear HIS message and place it in my heart.
• GOD wants me to speak HIS message to anyone who will hear.
• GOD wants me to have faith in HIS message so I will continue to speak about HIM.

 

Looking around at others, trying to decide if they believe in JESUS or not is impossible for any human. I mean, many people who speak and preach HIS name weekly may not know HIM in a saving way, but a greedy way.

 

On the other hand, that person who is a regular sinner, known by the community as a liar and a thief, may be GOD’s greatest example. Ask the thief on the cross. The only assignment GOD gives me is to speak about HIS SON, who took care of all my sins. I am grateful HE is gracious enough to give HIS message to me.

 

• Are you looking at “those” poor lost people?
• Do “they” need to be saved because of something ”you” saw them do?
• Will you stop judging others and include yourself by saying “I” am a sinner who needs salvation today?

Looking Across

Looking Across

Acts 10 ⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

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When certain people walked in the room, I got nervous. I mean, what was I supposed to say? I shook the CEO’s hand and said “I won the President’s Award recently.” He replied “Good for you” in a missed opportunity way. I did not know how to speak to the upper echelon.

Sometime later I walked around downtown. “Do you have any spare change?” asked a homeless person. He wreaked of all kinds of smells. With money in pocket I replied “Not this time.”

• Many times I treated some people as if they were higher than others.
• Many times I treated some people as if they were lower than others.
• Many times I treated some people as if “they” were unclean because “they” were sinners.

Peter was given a vision from GOD that was kind of extreme. He was told to eat animals and bugs that were not ceremonially clean for a Jew. Peter, trying to be righteous, replied “I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” He looked down on certain foods and up at others.

• GOD wants me to see people as “us” not “them.”
• GOD wants me to sympathize and empathize with people.
• GOD wants me to treat everyone the same and share GOD’s love, even to those I feel do not “deserve” it.

Looking up or down at people causes problems. I mean when I think I am lower than other people, I may not speak about GOD to them even if HE tells me to. On the other hand, when I look down at people I may not think they “deserve” a message from GOD.

Looking across at people enables me to see that “we” are all fallen people . I have sinned and so have they. As I have said before “We are in the mud, throwing mud at each other, saying ‘you have mud on you’.” GOD wants me to have an attitude of grace, not mud flinging. I am grateful HE sees me as clean, I should see others HE sends me to, the same way.

• Do you look down on people around you or on the news?
• Do you think you are better than “that” person?
• Will you widen your heart to include people who do not look or act like you so you and them will receive GOD’s grace today?