"Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people." Philippians 2:12b-15
See, my thoughts are, do we think about one's reputation anymore? It doesn't seem like it. We want what we want and we want to live the way we want without anyone saying different. What we do as adults in moderation our children will do in excess.
"Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy." Ephesians 4"22-24
Should we have privacy? Of course we should, but what we do in public is only a glimpse of what we do when we think no one is looking. If we are living as Christians we shouldn't have to worry about what we write on our page because it is going to reflect the love of Christ. We are going to be examples for others to follow. Face Book is an awesome thing, but it too can be a temptation to just write whatever our fingers type in. We should ponder over our thoughts before we write for others to see. We should think before we speak. We should pray before we act. The sad thing is no one cares what anyone thinks of them.
"Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God." Romans 14:12
Freedom of speech does not mean to abuse it. Oh, how we just run our mouths without thought. We post pictures of weekends out and those very things we once never wanted anyone to see. Now it seems that is the "COOL" thing to do. Why shouldn't we be accountable for our actions? In fact we are. We are accountable to God. We always taught our children that they represented our name. When they were out in public without us we wanted them to remember that very fact, but even more so, they represent the God they believe in. We are called to greater things. We are called to leave our flesh behind and not to partake in worldly things, but that is exactly what we do. As my husband taught our kids, "You cannot ride the fence. You are either who you say or not." We can't expect to show others the way to Christ if we in fact are not living according to His word.
"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." Philippians 2:3-5
We no longer expect great things from people. We no longer hold values we once did. Integrity is something that has been lost. Someone is always watching somewhere. Everything is choice. When it comes down to it we either make good or bad choices, but somewhere someone is going to effected by each choice we make.
Before we begin to hold others at a higher standard we first must hold ourselves there. We must begin within our own heart and mind. That saying, "It all begins at home", it really does. Home in our heart.
"No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: To do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
In Romans chapter 15 Paul is teaching us to put others first. To think of others first. When did we become so selfish? Listen to Romans 15:3 "For even Christ did not live to please Himself. As the Scriptures say, 'The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on Me." Our lives will either be a witness that leads others to Christ or moves them farther away. Our life should imitate Christ's life.
Maturity comes from striving to walk a higher road. "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." Ephesians 5:1-2
Friends, it's time to stop allowing junk to fill our minds. Everything we see, hear and touch effects us in some way. Our life can be that example that can change an others.
