Get the appJosh McDowell's Youth DevotionsSample
WHAT'S YOUR REP?
In the first list below are the names of fictional and factual people who have become identified with a certain reputation. See if you can match each name with the corresponding reputation:
1. Benedict Arnold
2. Midas
3. Ebenezer Scrooge
4. Michael Jordan
5. Attila the Hun
6. Pocahontas
7. Hercules
8. Albert Einstein
9. Michelangelo
10. Romeo
A. barbaric
B. brave
C. artistic
D. miserly
E. romantic
F. smart
G. traitorous
H. rich
I. athletic
J. strong
How'd you do? If you got less than half right, don't sweat it; it's only for fun. If you got all of them right, substitute your name for Albert Einstein's!
More important than how many you got right is this question: If your name were on that list, what sort of reputation would your friends, family, and others identify with you? If the words kind and merciful were in the right hand column, would anyone associate those words with you? If so, then you have already begun to establish a reputation for kindness and mercy. That should not only make you feel good, but it can also protect you and provide for you. A reputation for kindness and mercy will tend to make other people want to hang around you. It will often prompt people to be understanding toward you. It may open doors of opportunity for you to help others and, perhaps, be helped yourself.
If the words kind and merciful would not be associated with you, it's not too late to begin cultivating kindness and loyalty. Then, as today's Bible reading says, "you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation" as you begin to reap the rewards of showing mercy to others.
REFLECT: Proverbs 22:1 says: "Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold." Why do you think this is true?
PRAY: "God, I really want both you and people to think well of me. Today I'm going to... be especially kind to by doing..."
In the first list below are the names of fictional and factual people who have become identified with a certain reputation. See if you can match each name with the corresponding reputation:
1. Benedict Arnold
2. Midas
3. Ebenezer Scrooge
4. Michael Jordan
5. Attila the Hun
6. Pocahontas
7. Hercules
8. Albert Einstein
9. Michelangelo
10. Romeo
A. barbaric
B. brave
C. artistic
D. miserly
E. romantic
F. smart
G. traitorous
H. rich
I. athletic
J. strong
How'd you do? If you got less than half right, don't sweat it; it's only for fun. If you got all of them right, substitute your name for Albert Einstein's!
More important than how many you got right is this question: If your name were on that list, what sort of reputation would your friends, family, and others identify with you? If the words kind and merciful were in the right hand column, would anyone associate those words with you? If so, then you have already begun to establish a reputation for kindness and mercy. That should not only make you feel good, but it can also protect you and provide for you. A reputation for kindness and mercy will tend to make other people want to hang around you. It will often prompt people to be understanding toward you. It may open doors of opportunity for you to help others and, perhaps, be helped yourself.
If the words kind and merciful would not be associated with you, it's not too late to begin cultivating kindness and loyalty. Then, as today's Bible reading says, "you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation" as you begin to reap the rewards of showing mercy to others.
REFLECT: Proverbs 22:1 says: "Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold." Why do you think this is true?
PRAY: "God, I really want both you and people to think well of me. Today I'm going to... be especially kind to by doing..."
Scripture
About this Plan
Written for teenagers to use in their daily quiet time readings, this plan will make them laugh or cry. Some are fiction, some are stranger than fiction, but each will help you discover how to make right choices in the everyday ups and downs of life. Josh McDowell's Youth Devotions is a daily adventure in making right choices.
More
© 2011 Josh McDowell Ministry. All rights reserved. No part of these Materials may be changed in any way or reproduced in any form without written permission from Josh McDowell Ministry, 2001 W Plano Pkwy, Ste. 2400, Plano, TX 75075. www.josh.org. +1 972 907 1000. Used by Permission.
