Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

February 13
Thursday


CHARACTER OR
REPUTATION?

READ:
Revelation 3:1-6
________________________________________________________________________________________

You have a name that
you are alive, but you
are dead.
__revelation 3:1
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Legendary basketball coach John Wooden (1910-2010) believed that character is far more important than reputation. "Your reputation is what you're perceived to be by others," Coach Wooden often told his players, "but your character is what you really are. You're the only one that knows your character. You can fool others, but you can't fool yourself."

In the book of Revelation, we find the words of the risen Christ to seven churches in Asia. To the church in Sardis, Jesus said, "I know your works, that you have a name [reputation] that you are alive, but you are dead" (Rev. 3:1). The Lord knew the truth about them, and no doubt deep down they knew it too. Jesus told them to wake up and strengthen the spiritual life inside them that was about to die(v.2). He urged them to remember the truth they had received, obey it, then turn around and start moving in a new direction (v.3).

When the Lord shows us what's wrong in our lives, He always provides a remedy for change. When we turn from our sins, he forgives and strengthens us to start over.

How liberating to exchange a false spiritual reputation for the true, life-giving character that comes from knowing Christ our Lord! __David McCasland

``````````````````````````Men talk too much of gold and fame,``````````````````````
````````````````````````````And not enough about a name;````````````````````````
``````````````````````````And yet a good name's better far````````````````````````
`````````````````````Than all earth's glistening jewels are. __Guest````````````````
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The true test of our character is what we do
when no one is watching.

***********************************Today's Bible Reading __ Revelation 3:1-6***********************************

1 And to the angel of the
church in Sardis write,

These things says He
who has the seven Spirits
of God and the seven stars:
'I know your works, that
you have a name that you
are alive, but you are dead.

2 Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to
die, for I have not found
your works perfect before
God. 3 Remember therefore
how you have received and
heard; hold fast and repent.
Therefore if you will not
watch, I will come upon
you like a thief, and you will
not know what hour I will
come upon you.

4 'You have a few names
even in Sardis who have
not defiled their garments;
and they shall walk with
Me in white, for they are
worthy. 5 He who
overcomes shall be clothed
in white garments, and I
will not blot out his name
from the Book of Life; but
I will confess his name
before His angels. 6 He
who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says
to the churches.' "

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Today's reading takes the spiritual temperature of the Christian
church in Sardis. This city contained devotees of many pagan gods
and goddesses. This might have been a contributing factor to the
spiritual lethargy in some of the members of the church (vv.1-3), yet
a remnant had a vital spiritual walk (vv.4-5). A worldly environment
does not need to determine the way a believer lives. Spiritual vitality
is an individual choice of yielding to God's transforming work.