INTRODUCTION

The brethren are going to speak of one another, but often the tone of the conversation can be dictated by the reputation of the one who is the subject of conversation. The brethren spoke of Timothy, but when they did, it was a report of praise. If someone was going to speak evil of Timothy, it would have to be with baseless accusations. He had a wonderful reputation among believers at Lystra and Iconium, but 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...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller 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 1:12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
  See All...); Cor-nelius (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).
• 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 of 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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