From His Heart - Week of August 2

HOW'S YOUR REPUTATION?

"'But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task."  Acts 6:3

Reputation - Quality or character as seen or judged by people in general (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).    
 
When I was in high school, there were certain students who had a bad reputation.  They were known in school for drugs, or loose morals, or making trouble.  Most of the time, those with a bad reputation had earned it.  They had done bad things that sullied their character and brought disrespect upon their name.  Tragically, they found out the hard way that once their reputation was trashed, it was very difficult to restore it.           
 
HOW ABOUT YOU?
 
How about you?  What kind of a reputation do you have in your school, your workplace, your church and your community?  How do people view your character?  Would your friends, neighbors, customers, classmates and workmates describe you as a person of honesty, integrity and moral fortitude?  Do you conduct your life, your language, your business practices, your family, your finances and your decision-making in a manner that honors the Lord and reflects His holiness? 
 
Or, do you cut corners when you think no one is looking?  Do you cheat here and there on your taxes or expense reports or school assignments?  Do you tell “little white lies” when it seems more convenient?  Do your morals take a big dip when temptation comes and the coast seems clear of outside observation?  Are you rude, demanding, and stingy when it comes to waiters, waitresses, and others who are serving you?   
 
Reputation is very important to God.  He wants His children to be known for love, grace, and godliness.  Just like any good parent, it grieves His heart if His kids are known more for pettiness, bitterness, immorality, stinginess and rudeness.  And sadly, that describes lots of people who call themselves Christians. 
 
Maybe your reputation has been trashed due to poor choices from your past.  Is there any hope?  YES!  God is in the life-changing business and the reputation-changing business.  If you will yield your life to Christ and start living for Jesus 24/7, the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him will begin to fill your life just like that of fresh bread filling a bakery.  People will notice a brand new you … and God will be greatly glorified.

P.S. For more on the negative emotion of anger, I hope you'll get a copy of my new book, Runaway Emotions. There is a whole chapter about anger and I believe it can be a real blessing to you if you are dealing with anger or know someone who is.      

Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

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Anger. Depression. Loneliness. Guilt. Inferiority, Frustration, Worry, Discontentment … These are the 8 most common negative emotions that powerfully affect our lives. We find them hopelessly undesirable – but God wants to use them for good. In his book Runaway Emotions: Why You Feel the Way You Do and What God Wants You to Do About It, Pastor Jeff writes about the power of negative human emotions and God’s desire to use those feelings for joyous, abundant living. He helps readers identify and understand the source of each. With Bible-based insight, readers learn how to trust God’s plan in using each emotion for spiritual growth.

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