– 1 Kings 10:1
Inquiring Minds Want To Know
Your reputation precedes you. We've all heard the saying but as a Christian, have you given much thought to how the people in your circle of influence keep vigilant watch over your actions and your reactions? Oh yes . . . they are watching; observing your "Christianity" and they're formulating hard questions that will put your reputation to the test. They might never approach you to satisfy their curiosities, nor may they ever demand an explanation from you, but as they watch you go about your day-to-days, you are giving clear answers to their tough questions – not just about your life, but about Christians and Christianity as a whole.
"So what!" you might say? "I don't have anything to hide!" you could argue? You might even shout at the top of your voice, "My life is an open book and I'm not ashamed of the Gospel!"
All very good and appropriate responses . . . but at the same time, therein lies the problem. Your reputation as an upstanding, God-fearing, Gospel preaching Christian is the very reason people are watching. And for a lot of folks, right or wrong, their motive for watching isn't to find out more about this great Christian life that you claim to have, it's to catch you in those moments when maybe your witness is more Chaos than Christian; those times when the stresses and hard things of this life have you acting less like Jesus and behaving more like Judas.
We all have those moments. No one is immune from "life" happening at the most inopportune time, catching us at our weakest and our worst, behaving badly in one moment and then proclaiming Christ in the next. It's how we handle those moments of weakness that will provide the right answer to those tough questions. It's about helping others to understand that while we are not "of" this world, we still live in it and are subject to the same stresses and hardships as everyone else. It's about having the wisdom to convey hope, despite our failures – the Hope of a Savior who helps us to rise above the challenges and to go on. To just keep swimming (as our Youth Pastor so eloquently put it this past Sunday), while we are struggling—never giving up—never losing sight of the Promise we have in Christ!
Inquiring minds want to know, and it is through our living and how we push through our failures that the answers will come. It is because of our Victories that our reputations will be put to the test, but it is our connection with the Name of God—the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and the Father who lives in and through each and every one of us—that will more than satisfy any tough question that may arise. So be mindful that there are those who are watching . . . observing . . . taking notes, and formulating tough questions. The answers that come from the way you handle your successes, but mostly how you handle your failures, may just convince someone that they need Christ – and all of heaven will rejoice as another soul is saved by the Love and the Grace of God.
Prayer
Father thank You for those who watch; for their curiosity and their tough questions. May my life reflect Your Grace as I overcome my failures. May the answers that come from my actions show the abundance of Your Love and Your willingness to walk side-by-side with a sinner like me. I give my day to You and I pray for the wisdom of Your Holy Spirit to act and react in a way that causes others to inquire about my connection with the Name of God.
Have a Blessed day everyone!
– Richard
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