A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Wednesday,
February 27, 2019
"A
Good Reputation"
Message
summary: God
calls us as His
followers to have a good
reputation that is truly
a witness for Him.
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"He must
also have a good
reputation with
outsiders, so that he
will not fall into
disgrace and into the
devil's trap" (1
Timothy 3:7).
This
weekend the Sears store
at our local mall will
close it's doors. We are
sad to see this for
economic reasons and in
consideration of the
effected employees. We
also wonder how the
closing of another
anchor store will impact
our still healthy mall.
but
we are also sad for
sentimental reasons.
Growing up we both
recall our families
shopping at Sears and all through
our marriage have purchased
numerous items together
at Sears, including
appliances we still use
such as the microwave
oven over our stove we
purchased in 2004.
Sears had a
good reputation,
especially their
Craftsman brand, which
famously had a lifetime
warranty. I still have
Craftsman tools my Dad,
who passed away 20 years
ago passed on to me such
as the vice grip to the
right. Early in our
marriage we purchased an
old 48”x48” oak dining
table for $50.00 at an
estate sale that had
five 12” leafs. It was
covered with vinyl. Our
friend Jeff Worrall
helped us to restore it
and we've used it for
over 30 years. The table
can extend to nine feet
long which we have often
used.
(see photo)
We later found the table
advertised for $10.50 in
a 1906 Sears catalog, so
our table has actually
appreciated in monetary
value over the past
century! In our estate
sale it may even get
more!
Reputation is defined as the overall quality or character as seen or judged by people. The word usually needs an adjective such as good or bad. But when you hear the phrase "he has quite a reputation" you usually know what that means!
Committed Christians are raised up to be leaders in the church. Today's text is part of a listing of qualifications for church leaders, which includes "a good reputation with outsiders." Paul writes that this must be used to qualify the fitness of a church leader.
Sadly in our day the attempt to establish a "good reputation" is often more a result of spin or illusion than real substance or true character. The Greek word for reputation used here is 'marturia', from which we get our English word 'martyr'. It is often translated testimony, witness, reputation or evidence. God calls us as His followers to have a good reputation that is truly a witness for Him.
Our character is to reflect the standards of Christ and Scripture. The word "outsider" in the text most certainly means those outside the faith (unbelievers) or as the KJV puts it, "them which are without".
An excellent Biblical example of this type of reputation with outsiders is Daniel. Even though "the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, 'We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God'" (Daniel 6:4,5).
Today, what kind of reputation do you have with the "outsider"? Most of you work around "outsiders" every day. Are you demonstrating a good, steady witness? Do your fellow workers see the character of Christ in your life daily? Do your children and spouse witness the character of Christ exemplified in your life at home?
Now certainly this may include a Christian symbol at your desk, but it's so much more. Are you honest? What about your temper? Your language? Your diligence? Your promptness? Are you following through? Do you honor Christ with your lips as well as your life? Do you speak well of your family and church?
Remember, daily, you are developing a reputation; let it be one that builds your character and honors Christ at the same time!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, Your
Word indicates
the way we
interact with
those outside
the faith will
have a
positive or a
negative
influence on
whether they
choose to
follow You.
There appears
to be no
neutral mode
in our lives,
for we do not
live unto
ourselves, but
regularly give
account for
our actions
and attitudes
daily.
Inconsistency
and double
standards have
long been a
trap Satan has
set so that
the world will
point their
accusatory
finger and
cry,
"Hypocrite!"
Sadly, it is
often a true
characterization.
May we, as
Your
disciples, be
faithful in
our walk and
consistent in
our talk as we
serve You at
home, in the
workplace, in
our churches,
and in our
sphere of
influence. We
do not want to
bring disgrace
on the holy
name of Jesus,
but we want to
honor His name
as we glorify
You in all we
do. It is in
Jesus' holy
name that we
pray. Amen.
Reputation is defined as the overall quality or character as seen or judged by people. The word usually needs an adjective such as good or bad. But when you hear the phrase "he has quite a reputation" you usually know what that means!
Committed Christians are raised up to be leaders in the church. Today's text is part of a listing of qualifications for church leaders, which includes "a good reputation with outsiders." Paul writes that this must be used to qualify the fitness of a church leader.
Sadly in our day the attempt to establish a "good reputation" is often more a result of spin or illusion than real substance or true character. The Greek word for reputation used here is 'marturia', from which we get our English word 'martyr'. It is often translated testimony, witness, reputation or evidence. God calls us as His followers to have a good reputation that is truly a witness for Him.
Our character is to reflect the standards of Christ and Scripture. The word "outsider" in the text most certainly means those outside the faith (unbelievers) or as the KJV puts it, "them which are without".
An excellent Biblical example of this type of reputation with outsiders is Daniel. Even though "the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, 'We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God'" (Daniel 6:4,5).
Today, what kind of reputation do you have with the "outsider"? Most of you work around "outsiders" every day. Are you demonstrating a good, steady witness? Do your fellow workers see the character of Christ in your life daily? Do your children and spouse witness the character of Christ exemplified in your life at home?
Now certainly this may include a Christian symbol at your desk, but it's so much more. Are you honest? What about your temper? Your language? Your diligence? Your promptness? Are you following through? Do you honor Christ with your lips as well as your life? Do you speak well of your family and church?
Remember, daily, you are developing a reputation; let it be one that builds your character and honors Christ at the same time!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, Your
Word indicates
the way we
interact with
those outside
the faith will
have a
positive or a
negative
influence on
whether they
choose to
follow You.
There appears
to be no
neutral mode
in our lives,
for we do not
live unto
ourselves, but
regularly give
account for
our actions
and attitudes
daily.
Inconsistency
and double
standards have
long been a
trap Satan has
set so that
the world will
point their
accusatory
finger and
cry,
"Hypocrite!"
Sadly, it is
often a true
characterization.
May we, as
Your
disciples, be
faithful in
our walk and
consistent in
our talk as we
serve You at
home, in the
workplace, in
our churches,
and in our
sphere of
influence. We
do not want to
bring disgrace
on the holy
name of Jesus,
but we want to
honor His name
as we glorify
You in all we
do. It is in
Jesus' holy
name that we
pray. Amen.
A
lot of work
went into
making this
boulder-lined
pond with a
waterfall on a
hill along PA
Rt 117 east of
Mount Gretna.
(Click
to enlarge)
The
entire pond is
lined with
large stones
(Click
to enlarge)
The
Lebanon
Valley Rails
to Trails
path crossing
Snitz Creek.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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