Can you believe it today is already Friday.
Hey do you know, Why fish can't go on vacation? Yes that's right, It's because they are always in school. Haha Sounds a little fishy if you ask me.
Our meditation for today is found in
Prov. 22:1 "Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold."
I can see Solomon sitting with his sons and sharing this with them. Due to the fact that he was a wealthy man, gave great import to this word of wisdom.
This stresses the value of a good reputation. Good reputation is attained by living out lives of integrity.
Once "Alexander the Great" was
heard to have said to an irresponsible soldier named Alexander. "Either change your conduct or change you name."
We have a good name because we carry the Lord's name. We are called Christian's because we have become followers of Christ. What a great privilege is ours.
A name can't be easily replaced, not even with lots of money. Yelp is living proof to this fact, Right?
Solomon affirmed this in Eccl. 7:1 "A good reputation is more valuable than a costly coin"
In his day perfume was easily used for exchange of goods. The trader would open the vial as evidence of its value. It was considered equal in value to gold coins.
So Go With God He has exchanged the reputation of Christ for our sins. Now we stand before the world complete in Christ, with sinless perfection in the eyes of God.
The world about us who reject Him now will some day respond in a differing way "every knee will bow."
Our lives are above reproach due to the payment of Christ in our place. How marvelous is that gift? We stand in Him complete. Jesus paid it all.
As one of my favorite hymns echoes, "And when before the throne I stand in him complete, 'Jesus died my soul to save', my lips shall still repeat. Jesus paid it paid, all to Him I owe, sin had leff a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."