Sherri Evans

Sherri Evans

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Living up to the Name




 
    
Acts 11:25-26
 
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
NIV
 
I went into a fast food restaurant this week, to grab a snack and use the faster Wi-Fi for work.  When I arrived at the counter, no one was standing there to take my order.  Across the dining room an employee yells, "Precious!" About that time, an employee with a name tag bearing that name, turns around and glares at me.  Begrudgingly, she stomps to the register, and as if by dare, she says "Can I take your order?!"  I give it to her.  She then turns around, grabs  a cup, and slams it on the counter.  "That will be $3.58," she demands.  I reluctantly hand it over to "Precious" and she throws my change back at me.
I'll admit, by this time, I was waffling between humor and a very poor attitude.  Part of me wants to say, "Look, never mind.  I do not want to do business here anymore."  The other part?  I'm dying laughing.  "Precious" is acting anything but precious.
As so often is the case, the Lord immediately begins to instruct my heart.  How many times do you bear my Name, but act anything but Christ-like?  Busted.  So many times!  In that moment, I hang my head a little bit and thank the angst-ridden cashier with my gentlest and cheeriest response.  In kind, she softens and smiles.
So many times I am guilty of forgetting my Name.  My mission.   Who I represent.  When I wear a Christian shirt, I try a little harder to live it out.  But sometimes as I speed down the interstate, I forget my  Ichthus on the back of my car.  "I am a Christian." "I am a lawbreaker."  Can they both be true?  At the same time?
We all sin.  We all fall short.  The glorious grace of God stands ready to offer us mercy and cleansing.  We do not have to be perfect to bear His Name. He doesn't blot my name out of the Lamb's Book of Life every time I fail to live up to the family name.  But am I representing?  Am I representing Him well with my attitudes, actions and words?  Especially when the right thing is not being done to- or for- me?
Want to be more Christ-like?   More readily identified as a Child of the King?  Join me in this prayer:
"Dear Lord, I fail and fall so short of Your goodness, Your righteousness and Your love.  Help me to live out my faith in a way that is identifiable and understandable to others.  Forgive me for the times that I cause people to lose sight of you. When I am a poor representation for you. In Jesus' Name.  Amen."


 
 

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