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Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12) My dad was involved in the financial world. He told me once he had dinner with several financial anyone an after-dinner drink?” Dad told me he was thinking how nice it would be to have a glass of wine. But then one of the other guys said, “He won’t order any alcohol, he’s a Christian.” Dad said he wondered for a second, “Do they think I’m legalistic?” Then another guy said, “I don’t need anything, either.” A couple of the guys canceled their orders. They were just ordering to be like the rest of the group, and suddenly they understood they didn’t have to do that. Dad realized he had a reputation for living his life a certain way. He wasn’t legalistic, that invited men to approach him for advice. Does your reputation invite people or repel them?  52 Monday—September 18•A Winsome Reputation movers and shakers. Near the end of the meal, the waitress came and asked, “Can I get nor was he a jerk about his convictions. But he honored God, and he had a winsome reputation MIMBS 10 What is your reputation in the workplace? Does it invite people or repel them? How do you know that? Daily Reading: Isaiah 28:14–30:11, Galatians 3:23–4:31, Psalm 62:1–12, Proverbs 23:19–21 Tuesday—September 19•The Power of Jesus’ Reputation As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18–20) Sometimes, I think we get the impression that Jesus walked up to Peter and Andrew as a complete stranger and said, “Come with me.” We think they followed like zombies, like a spell was cast over them. But the verse immediately preceding this passage says, “From that time, Jesus began to preach...” That came after Jesus’ very public baptism, and after he returned from 40 days of being tempted in the wilderness. Luke’s version of this story gives more detail, noting that Simon Peter took Jesus out in his boat to give Him a forum to speak to the burgeoning crowd. So, when Jesus approached Peter and Andrew, or any of the other people He invited to follow Him, they knew exactly who he was. Nobody was more intentional in forming spiritual friendships than Jesus, and people wanted to go with him, because they knew His reputation.  MIMBS 10 Read Luke 4:38–5:11. How does this change your view of the passage quoted above? How does it solidify your understanding of the power of a strong and positive reputation? Daily Reading: Isaiah 30:12–33:9, Galatians 5:1–12, Psalm 63:1–11, Proverbs 23:22


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