Reputation is for Rebels

Reputation is such a funny idea. Some people could care less about it, some people haven't really any mind of it, and others live and die by it. Boston is a city founded on reputation. Whether in the name of universities, scholars, historians, and even famed sports teams. Reputation is something that this city lives and breaths. If you have grown up here, like I have, you haven't the slightest clue that you even care about it until you become a Christian.

Today, I realized, I care more than too much about my reputation. Yet, I was only struck by this because of verse shown to me in the Bible. It says in Philippians 2:5-7,

" Jesus did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no REPUTATION, coming in the likeness of men."

Here's the idea friends. Jesus was living in heaven with God in perfect harmony. Although debatable by those who aren't Christian, he is God. Totally God. And, he decides that he is going to come and live on our earth, the one he created, and give up his reputation as God and let us decide if he really is what he says he is. PLEASE do not tell me that you would be able to do that! I know right now that I care way too much about how smart, attractive, well liked I am, to give that up for people to decide if I am what I say I am. Yet, that is the bit that caught me! That means that I care too much about myself to be willing to risk it for that sake of letting you know that I love God and he loves me!

Reputation is something that God wants to wipe away from our minds. There is only one reputation that he cares about and that is the one we set in heaven. Being a Bostonian is not my excuse any longer. When you see me, you should see who God really is. So, when I flash you some other credentials, you better be ready to challenge me. If I say I am a Christian that should mean that I care about my savings bank in heaven growing more exponentially than my treasures here on earth. There is no other reason I follow God. If God can come down here and give up a throne, I sure can give up what people think about me.

If you find yourself struggling with building a good reputation, have no fear, you will figure it out sooner or later that it really has no value. But, I do pray that you will find comfort today knowing that you are loved just the way you are right now, without a degree, without a penny, with no one waving and clapping for you. God sees you, just as he created you, and is pleased.