Reputation

One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. 

Joshua 23:10-11 ESV

When we read the rationale behind the success of Israel’s conquest of Canaan, we find that the Israelite success stemmed in part from their reputation. Not to say it was by their doing that they gained that reputation really; but the fact that it was that reputation which made the Israelites fearsome is something we need to examine.

If that is true, what does our reputation says about us?

Do some self-reflection here. Does your reputation put to “flight a thousand?” Why not? It should because the creator of the universe fights for us That’s what this passage in Joshua says anyways. Or does our reputation say that God fights for us but was never asked to do so? May be our reputation says that God is not alive or working in our lives.

If your reputation says one of the latter two, then there are two things you need to put into action today:

Remember your battles are also God’s battles

We forget this often and think that we’re alone fighting against the world. But the truth of the matter is that your battles are also God’s battles. That means your battles with being a good parent spouse, employee, boss, then, that is the battle God is fighting for on your behalf. If your battle is more systematic like racism; then act like the victory is already won because God is fighting that battle on your behalf. I can think no further than the violence committed against Asian Americans and Black Americans, and all people of color during COVID. For Christians, know that God has already won the battle. In fact, the battle you think you face, they were his battles and he’s already won.

So what does that mean for you and me?

That means we need to live with the reputation that the war on racism is won and everything we’re engaged in to combat things as evil and disgusting as that, have been given over to God, and we act like we’ve won. Having the full confidence in faith that God has already delivered and that my actions have prevailed.

Seek to love God

The second thing we need to put into action is to love God. What does it look like to love God in our daily lives? Does it mean prayer? Does it mean reading the Bible? Does it mean ministering justice or mercy? Practically it means to put God’s glory ahead of our decisions. It means to seek God’s good and his glory, not our own. A lot of think just because God is fighting for us that he is doing so for our own glory. That’s entirely wrong. He is fighting for us because he is our God and his reputation as our God is at stake and so he is seeking his own glory.

To love God is to seek God’s glory through our actions. Next endeavor you take on, think about how you are putting God first and gesture to God your love for him. When we love God, our being will make a thousand take flight.

God promises to be your savior when you place your trust in him. Remember that your battles can be given over to him and all you have to do is be careful and love God.