My Reputation

This past year has brought about a certain type of spiritual testing to my family. Our hearts have been open to God's leading, and although we still don't know where His leading is heading, we are trying to "pick up" what God is "putting down"--meaning that we are trying to learn what God wants us to learn.

On several occasions this past year, I have been faced with issues that have made me defensive. I have felt the need to defend my husband or myself. Sometimes when I have wanted to defend, the issues have been major, but sometimes they have been minor. Just recently, I had a little "outburst" on Facebook when I felt that in a few instances people were trying to prove themselves more "conservative" that my husband or me by statements that were made on our Facebook pages. I have to admit, there was one comment that was the straw that broke the camel's back, and I was peeved--with a capital "P"! Compared to some of the experiences we have gone through, this Facebook thing should have just been a blip on the radar, but it seemed to encompass the bigger experiences we have been going through--so I allowed myself to vent a little.

Philippians 2:7-8 says, "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in the fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death of the cross." God sent His only Son, not as a king, but as the most humble of men with no reputation, so that Jesus would die on the cross. How convicting! The One who should be most revered, cared not for His reputation, but became a servant.

So what does this mean to me?

1. Being a servant is more important that having a stellar reputation.
2. Popularity and acceptance is not the goal; being obedient to God is.
3. Obedience to God does not bring popularity and acceptance--for Jesus, obedience brought death on the cross.
4. My reputation with God is what counts in this life.


Obviously, I am not always passing the tests that God is handing out, but maybe, just maybe, I'm beginning to "pick up" what God is "putting down."  One of these days, maybe God will give me an "A" on my test!