SOME THOUGHTS ON OUR REPUTATIONS

The adage says, “Actions speak louder than words.” Another says, “His/her reputation preceded him/herself.” What do your actions and reputation reveal about you?

The Old Testament character Noah was a man with a noble reputation. The Bible described him this way:

“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” (Genesis 6:9)

Righteous. Blameless. Walking faithfully. A person of faith should wish to have such a reputation. Noah’s reputation was so significant because it was so rare.

In Noah's day, wickedness filled the earth—but Noah was an exception. He was in step with God and out of step with the world—rather than being in step with the world and out of step with God. Noah didn’t care about receiving the world’s approval nearly as much as receiving God’s approval. Whether he had many friends or few, Noah was only interested in one best friend — the God who gave him life.

Friends, we live in a time when people celebrate sin and often criticize righteousness. In a world where faithfulness to God is rare, what do your actions and reputation say about you? Do others easily see your choice to live in step with God? I encourage you to be more concerned with receiving God’s approval than that of the world. God's looking for men and women whose actions and reputations represent Him in the world. It will not be easy.

God commissioned Noah to build an ark, in which he and his family would be saved when God judged the world. When people came to see the ark, Noah likely gave them a sermon—2 Peter 2:5 tells us he was a preacher. We don’t have a transcript of his sermon, but he probably told them to repent—since God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but rather everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Day after day, week after week, and year after year, Noah would preach without ever winning a single convert—except his family.

God's looking for men and women whose actions and reputations reflect His Lordship in their lives. He may not ask us to build an ark, but He does ask us to live lives that point people to Him.

Live righteous lives, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

(Originally published on Bishop Greenway's Facebook page July 25, 2025)