Part Four
“No Reputation”
From a very young age, most of us have heard from our parents about having a “good reputation”, especially those of us who are girls. It was not that long ago when it mattered. People were concerned about their own morality and the morality of their children. It was a different social atmosphere then – when integrity of heart and social behaviors really were the “stuff” of substance.
Businessmen were concerned about dealing fairly with their customers and their associates. It was important to have a reputation of integrity in the community, and still is to some extent. Without it, the business may suffer. But big business has changed all that. Why? Because people are now concerned about only the short-term effects on their pocketbook instead of the long-term effects of moral, economic, and social corruption. How else could a company like Enron manipulate so many people?
In the environment I grew up in, I was known as a “bad girl”. My reputation was shot with those who still valued such things. But I found acceptance and even admiration in a certain segment of the drug and alcohol culture. Things were changing. We were learning to value things that were worthless, and devalue those things that were priceless. It was the age of drugs, sex and rock ‘n roll and those who were ‘hip’ redefined the culture.
Today, “reputation” is scoffed at as a social dinosaur. Why? Because we have seen in all too many headlines, the gap between how one is known by the public, and the reality of their true character when the intimate knowledge of hidden things are exposed. Their “reputation” may have been excellent – their character just the opposite.
Remember when I said that “everything in the Kingdom of God is just exactly upside-down of what the world teaches?” The world teaches us to guard our reputations – and the Bible teaches us to guard our hearts – for out of it flows the wellspring of life.
As a bondservant of Christ, we will give up worrying about what others think of us, especially in “church”. In fact, we will surrender all that we are to the only One who deserves all our honor and praise.
In the next segment, we’re going to talk about how Jesus “made himself of no reputation”.
(continued)
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 1
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 2
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 3
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 5
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 6
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 7
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 8
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 9
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 10
Good article Lori, reputation is what people think you are,
character is what God knows you are. It’s so wonderful to know
that he know’s us. Then the scripture, my sheep know me and the
voice of another they will not follow. I will come and make
myself known unto them. I grew up around superstition and child
abuse. I felt unloved. But I had visited a little pentecostal
church in the hills of W.Vir. and heard 2 songs that stuck with me.
I was all alone or so I thought. Singing those songs with all my
heart. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Then
I started singing The B.I.B.L.E yes that’s the book for me. I was
about 4 years old. I could not read or write at that time. While I
was singing, suddenly I felt enveloped by love. It was the most
marvelous feeling. The Lord spoke to a little girl’s heart,
and said, When your father and mother forsake you, I will take you
up. I didn’t know who was speaking, not much older than a toddler.
Looking around trying to find the person that loved me. I found him
when I was 18 years old. Or should I say he found me. It was then I
found those very words in scripture. I was so surprised, those are the
words I remember hearing when I was a child. God knows us. The church
world surely would not have chosen me, but God saw the cry of a
little child’s heart and reached out a hand of love and compassion.
What I am trying to say, some of us did not have a good start in life,
we were not born into a righteous family, but when we are born again
we have the best family in all of creation. The love of the Father,
the Son and Holy Spirit. We were bought, redeemed with a high price,
Jesus is the only King I know, who died for his servants.
Hi Lori:
Just a quick not to tell you how much my bride and I love and appreciate you and your ministry with Jim. We’re original PTL lifetime partners as well as Builders Club members and tune in your program daily.
Can you tell us what happened to Kevin? Unless we missed something — we never heard what happened. We soooo loved his singing and original songs, as we know you did.
As a fellow songwriter, I always got “ideas” from his songs that served to create new songs. If you want to hear one of my latest, listen to “It’s A Good Thing,” based on Ps 92:1. You can check it at LordSongMusic.com
We also love Dan Betzer and his big band songs. I do those as well.
So — thank you for all you say and do. Whenever Elaine and I see you — we can tell, “you’ve been with Jesus.”
Good word Lorie.
How do we dress impacts people perception of a person. Christians should lead with good style wrapped in modesty.
I use to wonder what God ever saw in me. I wasn’t born into a righteous family. Just the opposite. My father was a coal miner and
mom a party person. I cried a lot about what I saw in my own family.
Then one night it was like a word picture. That God’s eyes searched the earth from 3a.m. to 6 a.m. His eyes were searching and he saw
a pile of blackened lumps of coal.The larger lumps were pressing in
on one little lump. This little lump of coal. The tiniest one was
crying out. I don’t want to be like the rest. I don’t want to be
covered with this coal dust. God saw and heard. Reached down his hand
and picked up the little lump of coal. Saying the World sees a tiny
blackened lump of coal. But I see a jewel. With his breath he blew
away the coal dust then closed his hand around the lump of coal. He
applied just the right amount of pressure. Opened his hand and there was a beautiful diamond. As he said you will be mine when I make up my jewels. God hears the cry and sees the heart.