“If you take care of your character, God will take care of your reputation.”

I heard a lot of things lately, but that quote stuck with me recently, it is still with me. It stopped me in my mental tracks while I walked listening to my radio app bible teaching, a great series about Samuel chapters 10-12.  Samuel warned the people about wanting a king over listening to God. And found himself defending his actions: “Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed.” The people found no fault. 

We too must consult the Lord and walk in His steps. Like deep footprints in the snow, it’s a path that we are more sure in taking. We see the next step and we also see the set of steps way ahead of time. And we are more secure in following. The Lord knows where we are going.

I have had challenges big and small. surely you have too, This quote was and is timely.  “If you take care of your character, God will take care of your reputation.”

I can hear the judge in “Miracle on 34th Street” speak “I’ve consulted with the highest authority possible.” He was just saying that to say it. But I believe that if we consult with God, we will see that He HAS gone ahead of us to fight our battles. 

The radio biblical scholar quoted that famous “If you take care of your character, God will take care of your reputation.” quote within a segment of advice to walk with people who are on fire for the Lord. This is so good for us. We don’t want to walk with people dulled with their life experiences and shrinking from the Lord. We want to be on fire and keep with people on fire for the Lord. Iron sharpens iron. And their witness will help us to listen and obey.  The scholar reminds us: “If you will serve Him, and you AND your King will follow the Lord, He will go before you.” Yes, the Lord goes before us. We have to let Him lead.

Walking and listening to the Lord has pulled me out of a jumble of thoughts quite often.  It has protected me from the devil chipping away at my peace of mind.

Samuel continued:

… “do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.  Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. [This is when they slipped up and felt God’s wrath and begged Samuel] And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”

So much I appreciate the scriptures and the support of the Lord. And I appreciate that when we are still, we and He have time to mull things over. When we stop worrying about tomorrow and focus on today, as Jesus suggested, we have more peace. 

Just recently I took time to be quiet, rare for me, but I had a burden that I shared only minimally, but maximum-ally with the Lord. Wow, the peace was real and the steps were there, and He kept me from getting ahead of myself. He allowed me family conversations that taught my children my thought process and developed theirs. And He gave me step by step peace. Another good thing about walking in the footsteps when they are nestled in snowbanks is that the sides steady your foot. The Lord steadies you when you step out in trying to follow His steps. He steadies your feet AND your leg AND your mind. The Lord supports you as you pause to rest too. With Him, it’s always “consulting with the HIGHEST authority”. 

“If you take care of your character, God will take care of your reputation.”

Go with God today.

Amen 

—-

Paul to the Galatians 

Doing Good to All (Galatians 6)

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.