Reputation

Reputation

Acts 9: ³⁶ At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. ³⁷ But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. ³⁸ And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. ³⁹ Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. ⁴³ So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner

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As I looked at my worn heels, I finally gave into the thought of getting them repaired. I voiced my decision to someone who replied “I got a shoe repair guy who is fantastic.” I took the worn shoes to him and when I got them back, they were polished with new laces and soles. I had a newish pair of shoes!

• There have been people I sought after because of their reputation.
• There have been people I wanted to work with because of their reputation.
• There have been people I paid attention to because of their reputation.

Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, had a wonderful reputation of serving people. She was a seamstress and a tailor who did far more than her craft. She touched lives in a positive, godly way. Peter was summoned because of his reputation of JESUS working through him in amazing ways. Both reputations were for GOD.

• JESUS wants me to follow HIM so I can become more like HIM.
• JESUS wants me to learn of HIM and from HIM so I can be like HIM.
• JESUS wants me to see HIS reputation as something to strive for so I can be like HIM.

People say “At my funeral I want to be known for…” in a way that says they want to be remembered by their actions. GOD wants me to fill in the dots with HIS service. HE wants me to have HIS reputation so people can know they can come to me to discuss HIM.

GOD’s reputation is one of love, life and obedience to HIM. HE loves when I serve others just because it is the right thing to do. I value what GOD thinks of me.

• Are you trying to build a reputation without bringing GOD into your life?
• Do you care more about what humans think of you than of what GOD thinks of you?
• Will you seek a reputation with GOD, so HE can use the gifts and talents HE gave you for HIS purpose today?

Purpose Filled

Purpose Filled

Acts 9 ¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

¹⁹ So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

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“Why do you want me to take notes in the meetings?” I inquired. “So people can get to know you” was the honest reply. I was being groomed to take on more responsibilities. I understood the purpose of the menial task.

• There have been many times when I questioned the purpose of what I was doing.
• There have been many times when I did not embrace the purpose of something until I understood it.
• There have been many times when I made decisions with the wrong purpose and wound up with a mess.

JESUS sent Ananias to Saul. Ananias obeyed and fulfilled his purpose by laying hands on Saul. GOD used this action to heal Saul, showing him that HIS followers were meant to serve other  humans, not harm them.

• GOD wants my life to be filled with HIS purpose.
• GOD wants me to go out and reach many people with HIS great news about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to make spreading HIS gospel my purpose and let HIM do amazing things.

Power only comes from GOD. HE is the one who heals people, though it may look like a human did it. GOD gives, each person who follows HIM, purpose. HE fills me with HIS HOLY SPIRIT and I become purpose filled. I am grateful GOD cares enough about me and others to include me in HIS plans.

• Are you seeking purpose in your life?
• Are you susceptible to the lies humans tell that draw you away from the saving power of JESUS?
• Will you surrender your life to JESUS so you can be given purpose that is filled with love and is everlasting?

Hope Kept

Hope Kept

John 5: After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. ³ In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴ For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. ⁵ Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

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When the news of a friend getting a job reached me, I reacted unexpectedly. I was supposed to be excited and celebratory but instead I was upset and angry. “What about me?” I questioned GOD. With bills piling up and no income for years I wondered if my prayers were even being heard.

• When problems go for a long time, I feel like giving up.
• When issues stay around longer than expected, I feel like I am being blamed for something.
• When obstacles seem to get higher and higher, I feel like I cannot even lift a finger.

Unintended consequences occurred when an angel stirred up the Bethesda pool. First one in wins great health. I can only imagine how selfish I would have been if I were sick. I mean I would have given up living life to wait on the pool to magically stir and then I would be ready to jump in at any given time. BUT JESUS did not want that kind of dependence.

• GOD wants me to understand HE knows what I am going through.
• GOD wants me to know HE can heal my situation at any time.
• GOD wants me to place my hope in HIM and live life instead of waiting on “this” situation to be fixed.

“Do you want to be made well?” seems like an obvious question, especially from GOD, who knows everything anyway. This question made me think. “What is HE asking?” GOD seems to be questioning the desire versus the method.

People will do anything and spend any amount of money to be made “well” and I am no exception. GOD wants me well, but HIS method is to heal me spiritually first. When my spiritual eyes are opened, I can see HE has already healed me of any circumstance but this may not be seen through worldly eyes. GOD is where I place my hope, not on what I can see.

• Do you want to be made well?
• Where are you placing your hope?
• Can you trust the process that GOD has you in and know HIS reason for keeping you in this place is to reward you and not hurt you?

Ingenuity

Luke 5: ¹⁷ One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. ¹⁸ Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹ When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

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“We have a business problem” were the words posed to me that started my wheels turning. I loved solving business problems, the more complex the problem, the better. I pondered solutions for days, even weeks. Finally I came up with a solution and when I implemented it, I received awards and cash!

• There were times when I spent enormous amounts of time thinking of business solutions.
• There were times when I spent huge amounts of time trying to get the company ahead.
• There were times when I put forth large efforts developing complicated business solutions that made wealthy people wealthier.

The paralyzed man’s friends probably came up with a simple plan to go see JESUS who was healing people left and right but they ran into a problem. The crowd was too large. They had to think of something.

I could imagine the quick meeting as they discussed options. “Do you think the roof would support our weight?” “How will we get through the roof?” “Does anyone have any rope or should we use our clothes?” JESUS saw their faith as they implemented their solution.

• GOD wants me to think of ways to bring people to HIM.
• GOD wants me to spend time pondering solutions to bringing lost people back to HIM.
• GOD wants me to spend some time developing solutions to meet the needs of people who are seeking HIM.

“Your sins are forgiven” was the unexpected reward JESUS gave the paralyzed man. Who knows how he got paralyzed in the first place. Was he doing something that he wasn’t supposed to? The Bible does not say. JESUS forgave him and I believe his friends benefited as well. GOD sees any ingenuity I can give HIM.

• Do you have someone who is seeking GOD but they are facing barriers to accepting HIM?
• Do you know someone who is trying to run from GOD?
• Can you ask GOD for HIS ingenious plan to be brought to you so you can begin implementing it today?

Willing and Able

Luke 5: ¹² And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

¹³ Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. ¹⁴ And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”

¹⁵ However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. ¹⁶ So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

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“LORD I don’t know what to do!” was my cry. I just sat there in tears as it seemed like everything I tried to accomplish was falling apart rapidly. Broken relationships, broken vehicles and broken appliances piled up.

• Sometimes it seemed like GOD wasn’t listening.
• Sometimes it seemed like I was the problem and I could not find a solution.
• Sometimes it seemed like there was no end to the pain I was going through.

With tears in his eyes, the man begged JESUS to get rid of his infirmities as if to say, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!” He then said to JESUS “If YOU are willing, YOU can make me clean.” He had faith that JESUS could do anything but also knew permission was necessary.

• JESUS tells me to have faith that HE can do anything.
• JESUS tells me to believe that HE is willing to do anything for me.
• JESUS tells me to know HE wants me to ask for anything and it will be given to me.

After begging JESUS for some help, it seemed like things eased up for me. I mean just as fast as everything went bad, they turned around to good. Relationships started healing and so did the material possessions. I could only thank GOD for bringing me through the storms of life.

• Are you going through something?
• Do you feel like GOD isn’t hearing you?
• Will you cry out to GOD today and ask HIM “If YOU are willing” and allow HIM to say “yes” or “no” to your request but believe HE has to power to do all things?