Reputation

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." Romans 8:14 NLT

As I pondered on this verse, I was reminded that it could be explained by the family fact. The family fact? What's that?

Well, if you remember when you were growing up, didn't you have to follow the rules of the family? The rules that your parents, or the adults in your home that were raising you, would hand down? If they said that you were to go to church every Sunday, no questions asked, you would. If they said to that you had to eat everything on your plate, and Brussels sprouts happened to be on that plate one night--you had to eat them. Didn't you?

As you were growing up, you wanted to please your parents. You wanted to follow their lead. You trusted them to take care of you and to have your best interests front and foremost in their hearts. Unless they gave you any reason to do otherwise, you trusted and followed.

When I was growing up, my parents had a reputation for having really good children. When we would go out, and whether my parents were with us or not, they would say, "that must be a Jay kid because look at how well mannered they are." People would want to hire us as we got older to do yard work or babysitting or housecleaning, because they knew that they could trust us to do a good job. We wouldn't take an advantage of them. Why? Because we were one of the Jay kids.

Now, please understand, I'm not bragging--we weren't always good--but when someone saw us, they saw well-behaved, brought up right and trust. We were led by the spirit of my parents and so we were known as the children of Mr. & Mrs. Jay.

The same can be said of your Heavenly Father. If you follow His lead, His rules, His life lessons, people will say, "Look, they must be a Christian." If you behave, think and treat others as He would, they will say, "I want to be with you and see what makes you different."

If you allow the Holy Spirit to led you through life and situations, you will be known as one of His because you will have the character of Him. If you read His word, if you seek His counsel by praying and listening, you will be known as one of His. Why? Because you can't help but absorb His spirit if you hang out with Him long enough.

So, whose child do you want to be known for? He claimed you a long time ago. He called you "my special child," while you were still in the womb. If you haven't already, will you call Him 'Father" today? Just open your heart and let Him and His Holy Spirit in.