PHILEMON 4-7 – “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”

THEME OF THE DAY: THE INFLUENCE OF REPUTATION.  We care a lot what people think of us.  Oh, we may deny it, but we do.  We want people to think well of us, to have a good opinion of us, and especially as Christians. We don’t want a single questionable area or blemish on our reputation contrary to our profession as Christians.  But let’s dig a little deeper in this thing called “A Christian’s reputation” and let’s do so with what the leading qualities are in such a reputation.

First, a good Christian reputation is not being seen as a religious person who faithfully pulls out of our driveways, observed by our neighbors, and going to a building we call our church.  Unless we have had a fairly lengthy interaction with them, they have no idea what such attendance is all about.  For all we know, they might think we are in some religious cult as far away from being Christian as possible.

Next, being a nice and kind person does not qualify one as having a good Christian reputation. Don’t get me wrong. Christians should be the nicest and kindest people on the planet, but we each know or have known really nice and kind people who deny Christ and would never claim to be a Christian.

So, let’s shift gears. What would be the leading qualities in a good Christian reputation?  In today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul recognizes a believer, Philemon, who not only has a good Christian reputation, but a glowing one and serves as the model for us.  Following are three truths making up such a reputation.

First, love.  It is love in two directions – the Lord Jesus and all saints – “I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints”.  Such love is impartial, sacrificial, and realizing it is love for Christ first, that enables a love to other believers.  In order to have a reputation, it must involve sacrificial service to others.  Love is action.  Love has feet on it.  Love professed and not love practiced will produce a reputation of hypocrisy, not Christianity.

Next, a godly reputation as a Christian, as modeled by Philemon, is vocal about the Lord Jesus – “and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ”. Unashamedly, the Christian with a good reputation as a Christian shares Christ.  He has captured the heart and silence is not possible.

Finally, having a good reputation as a Christian is influential on other believers.  It is an influence of encouragement and refreshment – “For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you”. 

A good reputation of love, sacrifice, sharing the faith, and refreshing encouragement is what gives the gospel and the Lord Jesus credibility.  Let’s strive to ensure we enhance both by a godly reputation – like Philemon.

PRAYER: Father, may my reputation bring glory to You and exalt Jesus to those knowing and observing me.

REFLECTION: Our observed, good reputation as Christians will be of greater impact than the mere proclamation of our Christianity alone.