Reputation Review

Acts 16:2

What are you known for? Do you have a reputation for anything? In my younger school aged days I was known as the dorky kid with the attitude problem (true story). When your friends, neighbors, or co-workers refer to you, what is the first thing that comes to mind? What about your family? Is there opinion of you different? All of these groups (family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors) comprise what most of us experience as our community. How does your community see you? In our verse today, we find another detail about young Timothy... he was well respected by his community. This may seem like a small detail, but I assure it is not. Seeing that we know the Lord called Timothy to a life of traveling ministry and evangelism, is it any surprise that he had a good reputation with the community he grew up in? I don't think so. Or, let's look at this from the opposite view. If you had a kid who was always disrespectful to the elders and authority figures in his community, would that young man be considered a good choice for travelling ministry? Possibly, but I don't think this second young man would be as prepared at adapting to new communities and establishing relationships with new people groups. Often, these smaller details are overlooked when we read about Biblical characters who lived so long ago. But, we must remember they are real people who lived at a real time in history. They had relationships, love, trial, and triumph just as we do. Ok, likely Timothy didn't have to deal with which Instagram filter makes his "good side" look best for his new post about Jesus... but I think we can handle that one. 

Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, please help me to have a good reputation with the community in which you have placed me. I recognize my reputation reflects on You and Your calling on my life. Amen. 

Reflection: 
How is your current reputation within your community? 

How can you improve it?