Hi
Have you ever thought about the connection between your reputation and your faith? Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to think about this.
“Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” Hebrews 11:2 NLT
They earned a good reputation for their faith, but I guarantee that those people were not perfect. Nor did they all begin with the perfect scorecard. They rose above drunkenness, murder, hot temperedness, self-centredness, timidity, suicidal thoughts, spousal abuse and prostitution to walk into their new destiny as stalwarts of this faith. For a few of them, unbelief seemed a safer and more viable option.
Faith under Fire takes a whole lot of courage. Especially since that reputation is not always immediately visible! More so, when faith has been demonized by the actions of a few of our own.
But faith begins with a conviction of the presence and person of our Triune God. A willingness to engage God’s god-ness to discern the true nature of God for oneself whether or not there is cause. It’s the ongoing relationship with God – Creator, Messiah and Advocate – which convicts us from within and radiates without. It’s the passion and compassion borne out of that ongoing relationship which pushes us beyond self to others.
The reputation comes (sometimes suddenly) when people see the effect of our faith walk on our lives. It cannot be bought like favors; but comes with our investment in our faithful relationship with God by the Spirit’s power.
Now is always a great time for investing in our faith by becoming more grounded in the Word and intentional in nurturing our already growing God relationship. Hopefully when others see the changes, they will share with you. But remember, the audience we really are seeking to please, is God.
Good morning
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
