INTRODUCTION

The brethren have become notorious about speaking of one another, not always in the best light. Frequently, the individual’s reputation who is the subject of the conversation dictates the tone of the conversation. We have several examples of the brethren speaking of Timothy. Thankfully, each instance involved a report of praise. If someone chose to speak evil of Timothy, the conversation would have had to revolve around some sort of baseless accusation. According to the Bible’s testimony of Timothy, he had a wonderful reputation among believers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul likewise gave a good report of Timothy when he said, “I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. . . . But ye know the proof of him, that as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel” (Philippians 2:20-22 [20] But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
See All...). Every Christian should live in such a way that any evil report would be baseless and rejected by those who know you best.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Many people in the Bible had a good reputation. Consider Ruth (Ruth 2:11-12 [11] And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. [12] The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
  See All...; Ruth 3:11And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
  See All...); Timothy’s mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
  See All...; 2 Timothy 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
  See All...); Demetrius (3 John 12); Cornelius (Acts 10:2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
  See All..., 22).
• (For everyone): What were the keys to Timothy’s development of a good reputation? How could those keys be instrumental in your own development of a good reputation?
• Can you dictate everything that people are going to say about you? Can you dictate any of the things that people will say about you? How can this dual understanding change your life?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to give you a reputation like Timothy.
• Ask the Lord to give you the wisdom to maintain a good report.

HYMN

SAVED, SAVED!

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