Ephesians 1:15
“For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,”
The Ephesians had a reputation for having a healthy faith and love for the saints. This brought Paul joy. We all have a reputation. How do people see us? I've heard it said that if we were on trial for being a christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?
How do we improve our reputation? While what people say about us shouldn't worry us, it can be helpful to give it some heed. We should be busy with the business at hand, that is investing in our faith and seeking God. It's interesting that the Ephesians are mentioned again in Revelation 2. They have some good traits which, but there is a glaring criticism, they have "forsaken the love they had at first". Rekindling that would be primary.
Restoring their first love would take care of the reputation problem. This demonstrates a fear of God, rather than a fear of man. A good reputation is the byproduct of a healthy faith.
What does a first love look like? Observing the crush of young love helps. Their minds are full of the other, they can't wait to see or talk to them, they do things for them and so on. Love does mature. We can see it in old couples. It is different than the crush. There is a contentment with being with the other, there is understanding, there is patience and so on. An old couple can still have the first love experience. It looks different.
Another way to describe the first love is by observing the first commandment, "I am the Lord thy God, you shall have no other gods before me". There isn't to be a competing love. Does that mean we can't enjoy anything else? No, but all needs to be under the lordship of Christ.
Are we to worry about our reputation? Yes and no. It is a good barometer of our faith. It's not referring to misunderstandings. Those will always happen. At times we need to address those, other times we ignore them. That being said, we are to ignore our press. Don't worry about the chatter. Turn it off. This might mean limiting or shutting down social media. All is to be under Christ's lordship.
Jesus addressed worrying in Matthew 6:25-27, “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span." What people say about us is like a mirror. It give us good feedback and should be looked at on occasion. We should not upon it for long periods of time. That breeds worry.
We are to have the reputation of one that loves and honors God. Let that be the object of our concern. All else will fall into place. We aren't to work to improve our reputation. Loving God will be evident.
A healthy view of reputation uses it like the engine light on our cars. It's a good reading of what is. If it's on address it. We aren't to obsess and worry that it might come on. Enjoy driving the car and do the scheduled maintainence. So, if we sense something negative about us, check to see if it's valid. If so, make a course correction, if not, ignore it.
Lord, thank You for this little check that should keep us in line. Give us the insight that will check in with our reputations and correct accordingly. Help us not to let it be our focus and lose sight of You.