Galatians 1:24 “And they were glorifying God because of me.”

REPUTATION

What a change in attitude!  What a change in direction!  What a change – period!  Paul had been a persecutor of the church, dragging people to jail and even agreeing with killing the believers in Christ. Now he is a proclaimer of the Gospel.  This was nothing short of a miracle.  You can see why “they were glorifying God because of” Paul.

Paul’s transformation was the talk of the region.  And those early believers gave glory where glory was due – to God.  They didn’t glorify Ananias who was the one God sent to Paul.  They didn’t glorify the men who escorted the blind Paul to Damascus.  They didn’t glorify Paul.  They glorified God.  But now Paul had a reputation to uphold – God’s.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children need to understand that when they become a believer they represent a holy God.  It’s not just about them anymore.  When they make their faith public through profession of faith and baptism, they are taking a stand for Christ.  People will see them differently.  Hopefully, they too will glorify God because of them.

So, when they do something or say something that could bring shame on their Lord, they need to make it right – quickly.  They need to make it right with the Lord first and then with anyone else they may have offended.  Children need to learn at an early age that confession is a good thing.  They need to know that being held accountable for their actions is a good thing.

How about you?  Are you bringing praise to your Lord by the words you speak and the things you do?  Are you protecting God’s reputation in your life?  Do others look at your life and glorify God because of you?  That should be our aim – to point others to Him.  Then perhaps we too can glorify God because of what He does in THEIR LIVES!