And my name is . . .

Have you ever been turned down for credit? Do you pay your bills on time? Have you ever been referred to as "messy"? Do you tell secrets? Do others confide in you during times of desperation? If you tell someone that you will do something, do you? If you're not able to keep your obligation, is that communicated or ignored? Are you reliable? Do you pass the baton when it’s time to manage your own responsibilities?

What's this credit and good name stuff all about? Some people have such good names that it is sometimes stolen. Identity theft is the idea of stealing a "good name" in order to benefit in ways that an otherwise "bad name" would be prohibited. Based on how you conduct your affairs, would you be defined as one having "a good name"? Is your name "good" enough to even be used for identity theft?

I guess what I'm trying to ask is, are you/should you be concerned about your name? Does your reputation matter to you? Did you know that God is concerned about how He is seen in the eyes of man? Ezekiel 36, verses 22-32 speaks about how God strategically used His people to reform how He was viewed. He moved in a way that would restructure His reputation. He did not want to be seen as "regular" and/or "weak". He did, however, want to be reverenced as the one and only true God. Through their own actions, God's people diminished His name and standard. His name and reputation were important to Him.

Do you give thoughts and actions to maintaining a "good name"? Do you care if you are known as a woman that is saved, loves God, strong in the faith, one that prays who is rich in character and integrity. Speaking of character and integrity, are those features relevant in living a Christian life. By all means, YES!!!! As Christian women, we should definitely be concerned about our reputation. We should not conduct a life that contradicts the standard of God. When it comes to standard, the bible speaks of how we are to owe no man, in essence, pay our bills? Let your nay be nay and yea, yea, meaning speak the truth, add nothing and take nothing away. Do unto others as you would have them do to unto you. We've heard these sayings all our lives, but they are the same clichés that build character and establish us as one that has a "good name".

It pleases God when we live in a way that brings glory to His name. God is satisfied when those who belong to Him live in a way that supports His Word. We bring glory to God when we live in a way that is full of character and integrity by having that "good name". When we love our husbands and children as God says, are "real friends" to those in our lives, and do well according to the word of God, we glorify God's name. We bring shame to the name of God, when we identify ourselves as Christians, but display characteristics that contradict that lifestyle. Lifestyle is a word of operation that indicates a repeating action or manner of continuance. Often times we sing the song in church, “oh magnify the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised”. As Christians, when we have a “good name”, we magnify the name of the Lord. On the other hand, we demoralize God when we do not.

Do you feel that having a good name is relative to giving God glory? What is our responsibility to maintaining character that compliments the standard of holiness and sanctification? You see it is not a standard of the world to exemplify a good name. In this ungodly world, it's common to lie, deceive, steal, hate , commit adultery, fornicate, murder in words or deeds and do all those things that promote unrighteousness. Righteousness on the other hand simply aborts all those things and many others that contradict the goodness of God.

What are some ways that you practice to maintain a good name? Is there something that you may have done or need to do in order to repair or restore your "good name"? Does your reputation bring glory or shame to God? When sworn to tell the truth so help me God, would witnesses declare an affirmative, yes!!!! when asked about their experiences with you having a good name/reputation, or are there many stories that would explain otherwise? What are your thoughts . . . ? Does it matter when you say, "and my name is . . ."?