40 Faces, 40 Places: A Devotional JourneySample

Bethany from Birmingham

Sometimes whole-life discipleship looks like setting a new example.

I work in local government. I have the chance to shape public policy, and I aim to work out God’s love and values in discussions around how we respond to social and economic issues. While I don’t always agree with the decisions made, I often find gracious colleagues who seemingly live out godly qualities without knowing it.

As I try to be open about my faith, I often feel self-conscious and embarrassed by negative actions from the church’s history. I find that people judge me for this jaded past and have preconceived ideas of what Christians are like. Although many people are anti-God in my work context, I’ve had numerous spiritual conversations, despite expecting the opposite.

Reflection

Look up the phrase ‘bringing the game into disrepute,’ and you’ll find countless well-known names from football, cricket, motorsport, rugby, tennis, golf, athletics, and beyond.

Perhaps we need a similar phrase for Christians. Some of those who have professed the Christian faith before us may not have represented it well – with serious consequences for the way people around us view the gospel. Although faith is the basis of our salvation rather than good works, we’re all called to live in a positive way that points to Christ.

Bethany recognizes this need and seeks to gently heal her colleagues’ negative perceptions – first and foremost, by doing her job in local government well, sharing God’s grace and love in the way she shapes policy. She looks for opportunities to share God’s truth with her co-workers when the time is right.

Today, what opportunities do you have to ‘bring the game into good repute’?

Prayer

Lord, I recognize my inability to fully display Your perfect character in my character. I am sorry when I may have put others off through my sinfulness. If my friends and colleagues have negative ideas about Christians, help me change that. Help me live a life that genuinely displays the positive difference You make.