ReputationSample

Can reputations change? And what are you willing to do to change it?

What do you want to be known for? For example, you may want to be known for being kind, hard working and generous.

But what if others don’t see you that way right now? Maybe others wouldn’t say you’re generous. “He’s actually pretty selfish.” Or kind. “She is a gossip. And is really mean behind your back.” Or hardworking. “We had a group project and he didn’t help at all.”

Because reputations involve other people, it takes a lot of work and intentionality to change your reputation for the better.

The good news is: we can shift our reputations. We can’t necessarily change our accomplishments or titles, but who we really are underneath our appearance and our performance is completely changeable.

Paul took control of his reputation. People came around to seeing Paul differently. They welcomed, celebrated and looked forward to seeing Paul instead of fearing him for his previous reputation.

If Paul’s reputation shifted, anyone’s can.

Paul clearly spells out a lot about what he was known for in today’s reading. But the things he used to boast and brag about shift to different things. It’s all about his NEW reputation. He worked hard to spread the Gospel, he was injured and persecuted by his peers because he began to follow Jesus. He was known for being a Jesus follower.

When it comes to your reputation, think long-term. It can be really tempting to be defined by things that last for short moments (mistakes, bad choices, etc.) but really small moments don’t define us. We can overcome short-term failures by keeping the big picture in focus.

Remember what you want to be known for, and live as that person.

When it comes to your reputation, remember it is NEVER too late to change direction! Paul was infamous for how good he was at persecuting Christians, and then he became a Christian.

And most importantly, when it comes to your reputation, put God first. One of the most worthy pursuits we can undertake is to be known as someone who loves God and honors Him well.