July 23, 2009 - Acts 9:21

“All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’” Acts 9:21.
Reputations are a strange thing. Saul was going into the synagogue at Damascus to speak out concerning Jesus, who he now believed to be the Son of God. Saul’s audience is “astonished”, shocked that this man, who once took prisoners in this name, was now speaking out so strongly in favor of this same name. Saul had a reputation with these people, and he was now heading in a completely different direction.
When I became a follower of Jesus, I knew that I was different, but was insecure about telling those whom I knew and believed differently than me. I lacked boldness in my new relationship with Jesus. It took me awhile to come to the place of not caring as much about my reputation as I did about the message that I carried. I was learning (and am still learning!) to be more concerned about what He thinks of me than of what the people around me think of me. Saul learned that lesson right away and was gifted to step right out in boldness to proclaim the One who loved him and freed him from his past reputation.
Questions to consider: Has your reputation, or the way that you have perceived yourself, held you back? If so, how has it? Were you blessed, like Saul, to have the boldness to speak right out, not caring what people thought and only caring what God thought? What are your thoughts regarding reputations?
Prayer: Father, I am so grateful that I only have to “play” to an audience of one – You. Help me to speak in boldness regarding Your message of love, not being as concerned about what others think of me, but only what You think of me. Amen.