Good Reputation

Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. [Hebrews 11.2]

Now there is a worthy pursuit - a good reputation.

Here's the deal though, a good reputation, as far as the world goes, is of no eternal value. But a good reputation of faith is what pleases God. Verse 6 says it all:

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [Hebrews 11.6]

Whether it is faith to raise the dead or faith to die for the cause, it is, and always will be, only faith that raises God's eyebrow.

There is no excuse for a "believer" to live a faithless life. While this statement sound completely ridiculous, it is exactly what many Christians attempt to do. They want to be "in" the group of the faithful - but they don't want to live by faith. It cannot be done. And, that is why I am convinced that far too many churches are full of unsaved, un-regenerated people who have deceived themselves into thinking they are okay in their faithless, powerless, prayer-less condition.

The solution is a return to faith. Only faith pleases God. Faith comes from God's Word. And, God's Word is half of a relationship - the other half is prayer. God's Word inspires faith and faith inspires prayer. What is prayer, if it is not faith? God's Word "initiates" the conversation, and prayer is our response. Equally so, prayer initiates conversation with God and His Word is His response. That is the way a relationship works!

But be sure of this: God initiates the relationship in the beginning. We will only have a good reputation as we respond to God - that response of relationship can only be faith.

Father, I am so grateful that You have initiated a relationship with me. Thank You. I want to be responsive to You and have a good reputation with You.