CHRISTIAN...is that what you're known for? What's your disposition? Are you known as brash, funny or easy going? The way you present yourself to the world is important to God
The reputation you gain with the people who you associate with, and the consistency in which you demonstrate it is addressed inPhilippians 4:5
"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."
What does Paul mean by "Moderation?" The Greek interpretation of this word literally means "fair, mild and gentle." So what is Paul saying? He's reminding us that we should exemplify through our lives the fruit of the Spirit, specifically in this case, gentleness, goodness, meekness and temperance. (Galatians 5:22-23)
What does Paul mean by "known unto all men?" This may seem self-explanatory as we come to understand Paul to be saying "to see someone as something and to have knowledge of, or to understand."
As we live our Christian life, there will be some people who willknow us better than others. Some people we see every day and they get to know us as being one kind of person or another. This speaks to the reputation that you earn through your lifestyle and your actions.
Paul is saying that we are to have a reputation of being a gentle and mild person. We ought not to have the reputation of someone who is brash or uncontrolled or someone who cannot control their tongue.
We are to be known as a true Christian, exhibiting the characteristics of Jesus.
There are other people who may see our life, but we don't personally know them. We may be known to them by what they see, in the one time they see us. We ought to make a good impression on everyone, regardless of whether they know us well, or don't know us at all.
- Are you exhibiting the characteristics of Jesus?
- What comments are you leaving on facebook?
- Is Jesus pleased with your conversation?
- Are you calling people names?
- Are you taking verbal jabs at people?
- Are you speaking everything that comes to your mind without regard to the consequences?
- Are you claiming to be a Christian but your actions speak of un-Christlike behavior?
- Are you claiming to be a Christian but you don't attend church?
- Are you claiming to be a Christian and yet you are defiling your body with habits, addictions and questionable practices?
Sure...He loves us unconditionally...however, is what we're"known for" causing Him pain? Are we the "Achin that's breakin' His heart?"
Although we are not perfect people,
we must continually reach forward to a moderate spirit.
We may even take the disposition that "we don't care what people think about us." However, if we are to represent Jesus to a lost and dying world, we must "care" how we're viewed...not only by those in the body of Christ but more so by those who are not.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for saving me! Your name is Holy and You are the love of my life. Thank You for giving me a Holy Ghost check in my spirit that will keep me on my knees in prayer and my heart in tune with You. I do not want to misrepresent You to this world. So, thank You for doing whatever it takes to keep my path free from wrath...and my soul satisfied. In Jesus' name. Amen.
