Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Today’s Scripture Focus: Philippians 2:5-9
We are focusing on sin recovery principle number seven of 12: “We submit to God and ask Him to remove our deficiencies.”
Reputation is an interesting concept. Most of us would stop at nothing to preserve ours. We are concerned about what people think about us. I do have a question: What if your concern were more about what God thought about you and less about how others might view you? What if your priority were to please God first?
Where to get a good name
The Bible does say that a good name is more valuable than earthly wealth (Proverbs 22:1). The driving principle to build anything of value including a good name should be having God be the Master Builder. The difference between us trying to keep up appearances and cooperating with God to build a good name is the transformation that must take place. When we attempt to preserve reputation, the risk is that if we falter or make mistakes, we might sweep the fact under the rug to save ourselves from embarrassment. We might learn to behave well in public while our thoughts and private lives are unholy. Conversely, if we are submitted to God and we temporarily falter, He is there to build us up. We can confess the error of our ways to Him, and He can give us a clean heart.
It is our privilege to follow the example of Jesus to submit our thoughts, motives, and actions to God for purification every moment of the day. Then, we will exemplify His character to the world. If our thought lives are aligned with our reputations, we are on the right track
