Just Busy Living for Jesus

Reputation: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general

A few years ago, one of our grandgirls faced the beginning of second grade at her Christian school with great trepidation. Her assigned teacher had a reputation for being strict and no-nonsense. For a little girl with a sparkly, playful personality, this could only mean one thing – no fun at all. She was quite concerned that her exuberant spirit would clash hard with her nose-to-the-grindstone teacher.

It wasn’t very far into the school year before our grandgirl began to see that the very characteristics of Miss S. that she’d been so nervous about were actually to her benefit. Yes, the teacher was strict. There were rules to follow and consequences for not following them, but those enforced boundaries provided a sense of safety and security for the whole class.

No nonsense? No kidding. But a well-kept schedule meant that the children worked hard and played hard. Miss S. made sure there was a healthy balance between learning and having fun.

That teacher absolutely had her nose to the grindstone! She came ready and prepared for every lesson, every day, and through patient discipline, she taught those kids to do the same. She provided structure that set them up for success. It helped them to mature in responsibility and prepared them well for the challenges they would encounter at the next level of their education.

By Christmas break, our grandgirl was a fangirl! She would tell you her teacher lived up to that “scary” reputation, but she would also go on and on about how much she loved her.

And Miss S. loved her students. She was well aware of her reputation, knowing that incoming seven- and eight-year-olds were nervous as cats when they walked into her classroom on the first day of school. But she was focused not on “winning friends and influencing people.” Rather, she poured her efforts into discipling and maturing this classroom full of souls entrusted to her for the school year.

The only reputation she cared about was the one she had in God’s eyes. She honored Him with her commitment, faithfulness, and perseverance to the charge He’d set before her, and she was true to her mission.

Revelation 3 starts in verses 1-6 with a letter from Jesus to the church in Sardis, and it’s not a letter one would ever want to receive. Jeus had a little rebuke for that church over a few “inconsistencies” He’d noticed. See if you catch it in His words: “I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up!”

It mattered not one little bit to Jesus what this church’s reputation was. He was not impressed. What mattered to Him was the reality that their deeds proved them to be hollow and dead on the inside – anything but alive.

So a few questions for us to think about today…

First, let’s consider our thoughts, words, and actions. Do they line up with our claims to be children of God? Perfection isn’t the goal, but pressing on toward holiness and righteousness certainly is. How are we doing? Are we living lives consistent with the reputation of ambassadors for Christ?

Second, whose opinion matters most to us? Are we living for the applause of the world? If we scrutinized our schedules, bank accounts, and contact lists, who and what would turn up as our top priorities? In the end, all the earning and striving for the prestigious address, the job title or the notoriety will be a vapor. Miss S. certainly couldn’t care less about those things – or her reputation. She’s just busy living for Jesus. Not a bad way to occupy our time.

She’s also patiently persevering and waiting for the only accolades she’s ever wanted – to hear from the Lord Jesus, “I will never blot out (her) name from the book of life, but will acknowledge (her) name before My Father and His angels.”

I think Miss S. has it right. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”