Shame or Glory upon His Name?

 

Richard Wurmbrand tells the story of a soldier, by the name of Alexander, who was brought before Alexander the Great, charged with desertion. Hearing the accusation, the emperor said: "I do not punish you for your cowardice but because, as a man who trembles in battle, you bear my name and put it to shame. You would have gone free if you had changed your name."

This little anecdote had me thinking. Like this soldier, we bear someone’s name. If we are Christians, we bear the name of CHRIST. Our attitude and behaviour can thus glorify or dishonour the LORD. Are we attracting praise or shame to His Name?

I was praying with my daughters yesterday and we sang a song – Smile by Jonathan Nelson-which is about presenting our hearts and lives to the LORD. After singing, I shared Malachi 1:7-8 with them - By offering polluted food upon my altar... When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? –, then, asked them to pay attention to the quality of what they were about to offer. What their hearts /lives really looked like? A blind sheep? A lame cow? Or, a sweet smelling offering?

This story made ​​me rethink the meaning of our vocation. If we are Christians, we bear the name of Christ; but how do we bear it?

Is the decision that you have just taken worthy of the LORD? Is the place where you are going to worthy of Him? Are your attitude, language and friends, all worthy of Christ? Does the fear that you have in front of this situation truly reflect the faith you profess in the One before Whom every knee bows in the universe? What does your recent compromise have in common with the One whose grace - to resist anything – is enough? When you say you cannot achieve this or that, where then is the One to Whom nothing is impossible? Do you only realise that every time you lie and crucify the Truth, it is the holy Name of Jesus –the Way, the Truth and the Life-, that you drag into the mud? And let me remind you that there is no small /white lie.

Beloved, let us revisit the fundamentals of our faith. Once again, let’s ask ourselves and ponder over what it is to be a Christian. Let’s examine and test ourselves to know wether we are still in the faith (2Cor 13:5). Bearing the Name of Christ supposes that we do NOTHING without first ensuring that it is exactly what He would have also done.

Have a great week in HIM, as worthy representatives of Christ. Be and remain blessed.