Tuesday; March 20


 Have you noticed that when a law enforcement officer is charged with a crime it makes the news?  Another group that is a pretty big media target is our public officials – people seem to make a little extra effort in pursuing politicians and are a bit more vocal when they snag one.  On the surface, it might appear that this is a bit unfair, but when we take a good hard look at it, it is probably the proper thing to do.  Those who are in public service – whether they make the laws or enforce the laws – are given a lot of authority, so when they cross those lines, it is reasonable that they would be held to a higher standard.  Public trust has some benefits, but it also comes with a price tag.
The reason I broach this subject is not to demean our public servants, rather as a lesson to those who hold themselves out as being godly.  When we profess Christianity, we need to understand that people will be watching us ... and some of them will be hoping to catch us doing something wrong.  Again, on one hand this might seem hypocritical or applying a double standard, but Christianity comes with a price.   In fact, the more vocal we are about our beliefs and the more we place ourselves in the spotlight, the more scrutiny will be applied to us.  We can’t get away with professing our piety one day and wallowing in the carnal world the next.  One of the writers of the New Testament used a phrase in describing Christian leaders, being “above reproach”, then went on to note, “ And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”. (I Timothy 3:2, 7)
Are we teaching the message of Jesus?  If so, are we living up to the standards of Christianity?  None of us are perfect and we can be thankful for forgiveness, but we must also be aware of our actions because someone, somewhere is watching us – and they may be anxious to let the world know of our failures.
Think About It!

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