Tripping Over Typeset

I grew up in a town where everyone knew everyone. They knew who you belonged to and where you came from.

Being number 4 in the line-up of siblings, teachers had an idea about me before I walked in their door. It could play in my favor or not, depending on the teacher and the sibling they knew.

My last name went before and followed behind everywhere I went.

There’s something to be said for people knowing who you are and who you belong to.

There was an expectation of behavior and if things didn’t line up, they knew my parents and grandparents, siblings, pastor and family pet dog. My behavior, attitude and work ethic reflected back on my name and my family.

As Christ followers, we belong to His family.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  – 1 John 3:1

My behavior, attitude and work ethic all reflect back on His name and our family. We represent Him and His Word.

We are His light to this world.

• The way we act towards others reflects back.
• The kindness we show that cashier reflects back.
• Our behavior in traffic reflects back.
• Our words to our children reflect back.
• Whether we work hard or sluff-off… it reflects back.

Knowing others are watching our lives should affect our behavior. Not in fear or hypocrisy but in the reality of living out His teachings and the love He has shown us.

Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – 1 John 3:18

We may come from hard family situations here on earth. Our families are not perfect. We may have secrets we would prefer hidden away. I can tell you God’s family is the same way.

God’s family is not perfect. It’s made up of imperfect people walking in the grace granted them. There are situations and decisions of the past we wish were different yet they are part of the family.  We work through them and continue to love.

Christ’s love compels us to live for Him and not for ourselves.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. – 2 John 1:6

May our goal be to live, act, speak and love in the same way He has loved us.

We carry His name.

Let’s represent Him in such a way that when others see our lives they say, “I want to be a part of that family. They know how to love well.”

Jump into the conversation:

• When do you find it difficult to love?
• How do you love even when others are not so loving toward you?
• How has being a part of His family changed your perspective on your behavior?

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