"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me." Jesus, in Matthew 10:40.
Do you want your reputation?
Well, perhaps at first though, you would say yes. Most of us have some degree to which we are comfortable with who we are. However, I would dare say that our sense of our reputation would probably not be quite what we would hope were we to go ask others what our reputation is. We might think we are witty, while others might see us as someone who tries to come across as clever and fails. We might think we are sociable, whereas others think we talk too much.
The first thing to find out as we think about our reputation is what our reputation really is. Not what we think it is, but what others truly think of us. Now, be warned. This is a humbling task. You will likely find that you are not what you think you are in the eyes of others. Yes, it's very beneficial for our growth, but not so beneficial for our ego.
Then, the next thing to consider is, is that the reputation you want? Most of us, as Christians, desire to have the reputation of Christ Jesus within us. We want others to see Jesus when they see us. But is that really what they see when they see us? Do they see us as redeemed sinners, or as people who think they are closer to God than others? Do they see us as Christians, or as people who want to fit in with society? Do they see us as caring for others, or as standoffish?
Do you want your reputation? As I warned you earlier, discovering what your reputation truly is can be a very humbling experience. Changing your reputation, especially if you discover it isn't what you want it to be, is a tough challenge. It usually means addressing parts of our life that we may be quite content with. It may even mean that we have to confront our own sin and selfishness, and that is no easy thing to do.
The thing is, this is purely for the benefit of others, and our hope that they see Christ living within us. Our daily reality is that Jesus has covered our reputation with His own through the waters of our Baptism, which connect us to His life, death, and resurrection for us. We don't address our reputation for God, or even for ourselves. We do it so that others will more easily receive us, and in receiving us, they receive the One who lives within us.
So, do you want your reputation?
Do you want your reputation?
Well, perhaps at first though, you would say yes. Most of us have some degree to which we are comfortable with who we are. However, I would dare say that our sense of our reputation would probably not be quite what we would hope were we to go ask others what our reputation is. We might think we are witty, while others might see us as someone who tries to come across as clever and fails. We might think we are sociable, whereas others think we talk too much.
The first thing to find out as we think about our reputation is what our reputation really is. Not what we think it is, but what others truly think of us. Now, be warned. This is a humbling task. You will likely find that you are not what you think you are in the eyes of others. Yes, it's very beneficial for our growth, but not so beneficial for our ego.
Then, the next thing to consider is, is that the reputation you want? Most of us, as Christians, desire to have the reputation of Christ Jesus within us. We want others to see Jesus when they see us. But is that really what they see when they see us? Do they see us as redeemed sinners, or as people who think they are closer to God than others? Do they see us as Christians, or as people who want to fit in with society? Do they see us as caring for others, or as standoffish?
Do you want your reputation? As I warned you earlier, discovering what your reputation truly is can be a very humbling experience. Changing your reputation, especially if you discover it isn't what you want it to be, is a tough challenge. It usually means addressing parts of our life that we may be quite content with. It may even mean that we have to confront our own sin and selfishness, and that is no easy thing to do.
The thing is, this is purely for the benefit of others, and our hope that they see Christ living within us. Our daily reality is that Jesus has covered our reputation with His own through the waters of our Baptism, which connect us to His life, death, and resurrection for us. We don't address our reputation for God, or even for ourselves. We do it so that others will more easily receive us, and in receiving us, they receive the One who lives within us.
So, do you want your reputation?
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