Reputation Aside

Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?" When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Mark 2:15-17)

Have you ever noticed that sentence in this passage before? "There were many people of this kind..." What a way for people to 'label' other people. "Those people" - that is a label, isn't it? They didn't 'measure up' to the standards being imposed upon them - much like you and me on occasion. They didn't 'follow the rules' some of the time - like us rule-breakers. They didn't always know what was right, much less do it - very much like some of us, huh? Yet, Jesus' opinion of 'those people' was different - he put reputation aside in order to minister to the need that was obvious, as well as the need that wasn't as apparent.

The ones who followed Jesus knew their reputation. They understood that they 'didn't measure up', but perhaps that is why they sought Jesus out. They might secretly have desired to 'measure up', but they just didn't see how they could. Much like us, they knew they had a need deep within for 'something more', but they might not have realized where their need could be met until they heard about Jesus. They may have looked at every other option (alcohol, prostitution, service to the Roman government, and even thievery), but come up lacking. That is until they met Jesus!

Society can 'label' people - not always realistically or with rational standards. Those labels can follow individuals for years, making it seem impossible to ever be 'seen' differently. Jesus put his reputation aside in order to help those with a reputation put theirs aside once and for all. This should be good news for those of us who haven't always 'done right' in this world. I am the first to admit I needed a 'reputation overhaul' when I came to Jesus. Jesus doesn't see our reputation and turn the other way. He sees the one trapped by that reputation and embraces them anyway. Just sayin!

True Riches

B.C. Forbes reminds us, "Real riches are the riches possessed inside." I am going to say some of us have riches galore, while others may only be beginning to see those riches building bit by bit in their lives. According to God's Word, true riches come as we give Christ his rightful place in our lives - when he is at the center of our lives, all the riches of heaven are poured into us. We become 'enriched' individuals at the foot of the cross.

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both. A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life. (Proverbs 22:1-4)

We have been looking on what is on the 'inside' of a man - for that is what really matters. If the 'fool inside' is the thing we feed the most, heeding its every whim and fancy, then the reputation one will possess is likely less than 'stellar'. Deal with the 'fool inside' and what begins to happen is a transformation of reputation. Some think there is no way 'back' from a bad reputation, but I believe Christ paves the way for us.

Having Christ in the 'right place' in our lives means we give him the reins. I know how hard that can truly be because I am a 'rein taker'. I don't like to give up 'control', but if you can learn anything from this 'rein taker' today, let it be this: God isn't going to settle for being our 'co-pilot' - he is meant to be our PILOT. For those of you who think this means we no longer think for ourselves, that is not the case. It just means we run our thinking through the filters of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the still small voice of our heavenly Father. 

A good reputation can be like gold, but how does gold really gain value? Through the refining process. How does a good reputation come? Through the refining process! We may want it to be instantaneous, but it is 'worked out' daily in our times with Jesus. The fires burn hotter some days than others - probably because there is something 'within' that needs to 'come out' in order for the greatest of riches to be left behind. We may not like the refining process, but true riches aren't just 'produced' without it. Just sayin!

This no longer 'fits'

A solid reputation requires a commitment to being honest. Deceitful people walk a treacherous, thorny path. Mom always said that my lies would "snowball". In other words, it was like rolling the tiny snowball into the bigger one which eventually became the biggest part of the snowman's body! The more you "roll around" in the lie, the more lies you attract and use to cover up the original one. Eventually, there is more effort in being dishonest than there ever would have been in maintaining your integrity and just coming clean about what it is you wanted to cover up in the first place. At the moment, a lie seems like an easy fix to a miserable situation, but in the end, the situation is made more miserable by the lies. No amount of "cover-up" actually stays covered up very long. Eventually some form of "heat" will cause the truth to surface - and when it does, the damage the lies have done to your reputation leave a bigger "hole" to fix.

We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives. Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance. Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked—are just plain sin. (Proverbs 21:2-4)

Consider how we treat the poor or those who seem to have injustices done to them all the time. We could all probably forget that the "beggar" is really a person behind the sign. We see the "outward" but forget about the person behind the outward display. I think God wants us to consider the person and not only their "display" - for the person is the one with the true need for our touch, consideration, and empathy. Injustice is any event or circumstance which inflicts undeserved hurt. See beyond the "sign" in another's life and look for the ways we can turn-around the "hurts" they have experienced. The foolish man is really exhibiting some 'not so good' behavior which affects those around him. Fighting, quarrels, and insults leave their devastation behind wherever the fool has had his influence. The fool defies and challenges just for the sake of an argument without regard to the outcome or the cost. We have to guard against maintaining company with the fool - because they do damage without any concern for the damage inflicted. If you find yourself "downing" the hopes of another, you might just be venturing into the realm of the fool. Check yourself if this occurs, for you are not only damaging the delight of another but developing a bad reputation for yourself.

Reputation is both gained and maintained. What we might not realize is how it can also be "re-gained". It is through the work of Christ in our lives, taking apart the pieces which don't "fit" any longer after we give him control. In turn, he replaces these pieces with the type of actions which "fit". It is this "refitting" operation which reveals new evidence consistent with a change in character. This change in character is what gives us a renewed or new reputation in the eyes of others. If you have found yourself in the place of living with a damaged reputation because of past actions on your part, don't be discouraged. God's plan is to restore in ways you would never dream possible. You just need to give him the damaged parts and let him have his way in taking away what no longer "befits" the child of God and "outfitting" you with his character in turn. Just sayin!

What a character!

A good reputation is better than much wealth; high esteem is better than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both. Prudent people see trouble and hide, while the simpleminded go right to it and get punished. The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord is wealth, honor, and life. Thorns and nets are in the path of the crooked; those who guard their lives keep their distance. Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it. The wealthy rule over the poor; a borrower is a slave to a lender. Those who sow injustice will harvest evil; the rod of their fury will come to an end. Happy are generous people, because they give some of their food to the poor. Remove the mocker and conflict disappears; judgment and shame also stop. (Proverbs 21:1-10)

The overall quality of character is what determines if a man or woman will be known in a favorable light. We call this "reputation" - something which "precedes" us into every venture in life. Get a "bad rep" and we might just have to "start over" in a new "life" in order to escape the "unfavorable" reputation we have acquired. People try to do this by moving to a new location, starting a new job, or entering into a new relationship. Until we deal with whatever got us the "bad rep" in the first place, we will just redo the same things wherever we start anew. I know this because I speak from personal experience. I was a little bit of a troublemaker as a teenager, and there were times when my reputation preceded me wherever I went. Despite the attempts to convince others I had "started over", the bad events of my past just followed me. What I failed to recognize it that others looked for evidence in the actions I exhibited, not in the words I spoke. The "convincing" only came once God fully got hold of my life and my "reputation" began to change because my CHARACTER began to change!

Character is the basis of everything others might come to believe about us. We can determine to "show" one thing, but if the character is not there behind what it is we are "showing", it won't hold up to the test of time or the scrutiny of the observant eye. God asks for us to "guard" the "clean" reputation that comes from simply serving him. We need to "protect" it - not because we need to "shine it up" to make it appear good, but because there are lots of opportunities for it to get "dings" and "gouges" along the way. All we respond to in life provides opportunity for getting a few dings or gouges in our reputation - it is the responses we give in the moment of testing which often need our greatest attention. A prudent person "foresees" the dangers ahead and as a result, he takes the necessary actions to avoid those dangers. This is where I went wrong in my teenage years - I thought I could just trudge ahead, unconcerned about the consequences of my questionable and even bad decisions. I forgot to consider my actions producing certain consequences - some of which damaged my reputation. This is where a good many of us fail in life - not considering the dangers ahead by giving full-steam to the actions we take in the moment. When God reminds us to "guard" our reputation, I think he is telling us to think about the actions before we take them - considering well the consequences which could come as a result of certain actions. Just sayin!

Casting the right shadow

Abraham Lincoln said, "Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." We all have a reputation - that shadow of our character - some of us better in some ways than another, but we all have our "bad stuff" we'd rather nobody ever associated with us! A reputation is the "estimation" we have of someone simply by what we observe, or don't observe, in their performance / behavior. It is only an "estimation" as scripture clearly reminds us we cannot really know a man's heart - only God can truly see "into" a man's heart. We see the shadow - God sees the roots.

Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

We "earn" a reputation - growing like a shadow we can see it is not given to us! We gain it by the various ways we behave. We are reminded today of the need to "earn" a reputation for living well in God's eyes - and in turn, the eyes of the people around us. Shadows are 'cast' - they aren't just there. I never really thought about "earning" my reputation in God's eyes before - maybe because I was so focused on the reputation I was earning in the eyes of others. I kind of relied on my reputation being what God saw when he looked at me through the eyes of Jesus! Yet, I know there is the whole other side to my reputation God wants to focus on - that which is founded in good character.

This is not an invalid perception - God DOES see me as he sees Jesus. He sees me through the sacrifice of Christ as a new creation, redeemed, made whole and holy. Yet, he looks for evidence of a life-change - the very stuff which makes up a reputation! In other words, God wants to see my actions reflect his grace, my attitude reflect his love, and my commitment reflect his tremendous loyalty toward me! I cannot think of any particular "thing" we can do which lends to what God has done in our lives by his grace - but I can think of a whole lot of ways we can "reflect" this grace to a hurting world around us! When others look at our response to trial, do they see our commitment to remain steadfast in our faith, or a wavering and inconsistent wishy-washy faith? When they see our response to unkind words, do they see a reflection of God's love by our "release" of our offender, or our own desire to "get even" with the one who has offended us?

Look at how God asks us to gain a reputation - by never losing our grip on love and loyalty. As we consider this important point, we cannot discount the next portion of the passage as the "how-to" which lends to the means of never losing our grip. He says it is in how well we allow God's love to "engrave" our hearts and how close we keep him in our day's activities. Something which is bound around our neck is always close at hand. I wear a small silver chain with a little dove on it around my neck. This was a gift from my daughter, but it really reminds me of the fact I am never without the Spirit of God in my life - close to my heart, guiding my actions, influencing my choices. Now, it serves as a reminder to my mom when she is confused as to who I am that I am the "real" daughter she is seeking. She thinks there are many who claim to be me at times, but when she feels that evidence, she is put at ease.

You don't have to wear a necklace to "bind love and loyalty" around your neck, or give evidence of who you are in Christ Jesus. It is a symbol of the closeness we need to maintain to God's Word, his Spirit, and the protection both provide in our daily walk. Why the neck? In connects the heart to the mind. Neither is able to stand alone. Cut the brain off from the supply of oxygen and blood from the heart and lungs and it isn't able to function as it should. Cut the brain off and the heart and lungs are useless organs no longer able to sustain life. So, God's Word and his Spirit "tie together" the mind and the heart - so each functions well, responds consistently, and can be relied upon to not misdirect the rest of our body! Maybe it is time to "overhaul" our reputation a little. We begin by "binding" the right stuff in the very middle of what gives us the greatest trouble with our reputation - our heart and our mind! The shadow cast when we do is mighty! Just sayin!

The shadow of reputation

"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself." (Henry Ward Beecher)  My bible college professor used to tell us to live "above suspicion" in all we do and say. The idea of living in such a way so as to be "above reproach" - in a manner that would not allow any accusation to be considered against you - this is the idea of "living by a higher standard". It is not that we see ourselves as above reproach in some lofty or prideful way, but that we continually seek to allow the standard Christ set to be the one we follow.

A good reputation is preferable to riches, and the approval of others is better than precious silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1 VOICE)

Beecher also said, "The real man is one who finds excuses for others, but never excuses himself."  I think the idea of continually asking the Holy Spirit to guide your actions, temper your words, and influence your thoughts AND then taking action upon what you know to be the will of God is paramount to walking in such a manner so as to be above reproach. While I may be able to excuse the actions of another as them not knowing better, I cannot excuse those same actions in myself because I have the Spirit resident in me and therefore, I do know better!  

Abraham Lincoln put it this way: "Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." Let that one sink in for a few minutes. The shadow is what we think of the tree - sometimes looming bigger than life, spanning wide and far, but is it the "real deal". No! The thing we forget is that the tree is probably much smaller than the shadow, and all the scars in the bark, bareness or fullness of the leaves upon it, or the presence of various other life-forms within it is only evident when we look at the tree - not the shadow.

Reputation is like the shadow of character. The shadow of reputation gives us a hint of what the real character of a man or woman may be, but the reputation we believe is made up of what we have come to know about the person. We trust in certain attributes and whenever something is said contrary to what we have come to believe about the individual, we find it hard to accept. Just as with the tree that casts a huge shadow upon the ground, we may see the shadow of a man's reputation is larger than life proportions, but what we must trust more than anything else is what is in the heart of the man. Just sayin!

Who is the person behind the sign?

The overall quality of character is what determines if a man or woman will be "favorably" known.  We call this "reputation" - something which "precedes" you into every venture in life.  Get a "bad rep" and you might just have to "start over" in a new "life" in order to escape the "unfavorable" reputation you have acquired.  Many people try to do this by moving to a new location, starting a new job, or entering into a new relationship.  Trouble is, until you deal with whatever got you the "bad rep" in the first place, you will just redo the same things wherever you start anew.  I know this because I speak from personal experience.  I was a little bit of a trouble-maker as a teenager, and there were times when my reputation preceded me wherever I went.  Despite the attempts to convince others I had "started over", the bad events of my past just followed me.  What I failed to recognize it that others looked for evidence in the actions I exhibited, not in the words I spoke.  The "convincing" only came once God fully got hold of my life and my "reputation" began to change because my CHARACTER began to change!

A good reputation is better than much wealth; high esteem is better than silver and gold.  The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both.   Prudent people see trouble and hide, while the simpleminded go right to it and get punished.  The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.  Thorns and nets are in the path of the crooked; those who guard their lives keep their distance.  Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it. The wealthy rule over the poor; a borrower is a slave to a lender.  Those who sow injustice will harvest evil; the rod of their fury will come to an end.  Happy are generous people, because they give some of their food to the poor.  Remove the mocker and conflict disappears; judgment and shame also stop.  (Proverbs 21:1-10 CEB)

Character is the basis of everything others might come to believe about us. We can determine to "show" one thing, but if the character is not there behind what it is we are "showing", it won't hold up to the test of time or the scrutiny of the observing eye.  God asks for us to "guard" the "clean" reputation that comes from simply serving him.  It is as though we need to "protect" it - not because we need to "shine it up" to make it appear good, but because there are lots of opportunities for it to get "dings" and "gouges" along the way. All we respond to in life provides opportunity for getting a few dings or gouges in our reputation - it is the responses we give in the moment of testing which often need our greatest attention.

A prudent person "foresees" the dangers ahead and as a result, he takes the necessary actions to avoid those dangers.  This is where I went wrong in my teenage years - I thought I could just trudge ahead, unconcerned about the consequences of my decisions.  I forgot to consider my actions producing certain consequences - some of which damaged my reputation.  This is where a good many of us fail in life - not considering the dangers ahead by giving full-steam to the actions we take in the moment.  When God reminds us to "guard" our reputation, I think he is telling us to think about the actions before we take them - considering well the consequences which could come as a result of certain actions.

Part of our reputation is our commitment to being honest.  Deceitful people walk a treacherous, thorny path.  Mom always used to remind me that my lies would "snowball".  In other words, it was like rolling the tiny snowball into the bigger one which eventually became the part of the snowman's body!  The more you "roll around" in the lie, the more lies you attract and use to cover up the original one.  Eventually, there is more effort in being dishonest than there ever would have been in maintaining your integrity and just coming clean about what it is you wanted to cover up in the first place.  At the moment, a lie seems like an easy fix to a miserable situation, but in the end, the situation is made more miserable by the lies.  As a mother and grandmother, I try to emphasize this to both my children and grandchildren. No amount of "cover-up" actually stays covered up very long.  Eventually some form of "heat" will cause the truth to surface - and when it does, the damage the lies do to your reputation leave a bigger "hole" to fix.

Another aspect of our reputation is determined in the way we treat others. We are reminded to consider how we treat the poor or those who seem to have injustices done to them all the time.  Right now, I cannot recite the entire song, or even tell you the name of it, but there is a Christian artist who sings about going past the same woman on the street corner day after day, seemingly oblivious to the fact the "beggar" is really a person behind the sign. At one moment in time, it dawns on him to see beyond the sign.  I think this is probably good advice for all of us.  We see the "outward", but forget about the person behind the outward display.  I think God wants us to consider the person and not their "display" - for the person is the one with the true need for our touch, consideration, and empathy.  Injustice is any event or circumstance which inflicts undeserved hurt.  Thinking on that one for just a little bit might just help us to see beyond the "sign" in another's life and look for the ways we can turn-around the "hurts" they have experienced.

Last, let's consider the mocker this morning.  The mocker is really exhibiting some foolish behavior which affects those around him.  Fighting, quarrels, and event simply insults leave their devastation behind wherever the mocker has had his influence.  The reason this occurs is found in the underlying "mode of operation" of the mocker.  He really has the intention of seeking to disappoint the hopes of those he is around - he defies and challenges just for the sake of an argument without regard to the outcome or the cost.  So we have to guard against maintaining company with the mocker - because they do damage without any concern for the damage inflicted.  If you find yourself "downing" the hopes of another, you might just be venturing into the realm of the mocker.  Check yourself if this occurs, for you are not only damaging the delight of another, but developing a bad reputation for yourself.  

Reputation is both gained and maintained.  What we might not realize is how it can also be "re-gained".  It is through the work of Christ in our lives, taking apart the pieces which don't "fit" any longer after we give him control.  In turn, he replaces these pieces with the type of actions which "fit".  It is this "refitting" operation which reveals new evidence consistent with a change in character.  This change in character is what gives us a renewed or new reputation in the eyes of others.  If you have found yourself in the place of living with a damaged reputation because of past actions on your part, don't be discouraged.  God's plan is to restore in ways you would never dream possible.  You just need to give him the damaged parts and let him have his way in taking away what no longer "befits" the child of God and "outfitting" you with his character in turn.  Just sayin!

Heart attraction

We might call a person who really doesn't like to be around other people a recluse.  We might think of this person as living in a secluded area, or in a house with tall shrubs all around so as to keep people out and their "secret lives" secret.  In reality, anyone who lives "shut off" from the world is living a life of a recluse.  I am not much into quantum theory, although I have had the privilege of speaking with some amazingly intelligent men and women who do very well in this field.  I do appreciate some of the principles they teach, one of which is best stated by Erwin Schrodinger, an Austrian Physicist who studied in this field.  He said, "For a solitary animal, egoism is a virtue that tends to preserve and improve the species; in any kind of community it becomes a destructive vice."  Well said, Mr. Schrodinger!  As long as we live with ourselves and engage with no others throughout this lifetime, we might just find our egocentric lifestyle exactly what we need to survive.  If we venture at all into society at large, this egocentricity will be what gives us the greatest conflict!

People who do not get along with others are interested only in themselves; they will disagree with what everyone else knows is right.  A fool does not care whether he understands a thing or not; all he wants to do is show how smart he is.  Sin and shame go together. Lose your honor, and you will get scorn in its place.  A person's words can be a source of wisdom, deep as the ocean, fresh as a flowing stream.  It is not right to favor the guilty and keep the innocent from receiving justice.  When some fool starts an argument, he is asking for a beating.  When a fool speaks, he is ruining himself; he gets caught in the trap of his own words.  Gossip is so tasty—how we love to swallow it!  A lazy person is as bad as someone who is destructive. The Lord is like a strong tower, where the righteous can go and be safe.  (Proverbs 18:1-10 GNT)

The most profound quote about this tendency we have to "isolate" ourselves from others is really from an American preacher.  Henry Ward Beecher once said, "Greatness lies, not in being strong, but in the right use of strength; and strength is not used rightly when it serves only to carry a man above his fellows for his own solitary glory.  He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own."  Chew on that one a while and you will see how Mr. Beecher really nailed this one on the head.  Nothing attracts others more than the heart of a man or woman.  Conversely, nothing maintains or damages relationships quicker than the heart of a man or woman.  The heart is the seat of our emotions, intellect, and connects closely with our spirit.  A recluse is self-indulgent, snarling at life, and those who fill the spaces around them.  

As long as we live a solitary existence, we are free to be self-indulgent, excessive or unrestrained in the pursuit of what we believe will satisfy our own appetites, desires, and whims.  To withdraw from relationship is to become "inward focused".  If you know anyone who might just be "me-centered", you will note how quickly the "rules" of conduct they adhere to are really those which they have made for themselves.  The rules of conduct which others live by really don't make sense to them, so they create their own.  If you haven't guessed it by now, this is quite a dangerous spot to find oneself in.  We are not very good at living by the rules - what ever would make us think we could be any better at writing the rules?

We have concluded in our study of the Proverbs that a fool has no interest in understanding - they just want to air their own opinion, follow their own rules, live their own lives.  The problem comes when the fool enters into society trying to air that opinion, live outside the rules of society, or seclude themselves.  A fool lacks judgement and prudence - often expressing what should be left unsaid or speaking before they hear all the facts.  In community, this causes issues.  Maybe this is why the fool gravitates to a life of solitary existence, or at least lives communally with those of like foolish behavior.  

When the foolishness is allowed to prevail, three things are certain to happen:

- There will be a lack of respect for others.  We have a fancy word for this - contempt.  Where there is a lack of respect for others, there is also this willful disregard for the rules - disobedience is the norm, not the exception. Authority is really defined by who makes the rules - the fool follows their own set of rules, so they are their own authority.

- You cannot live long around a fool without seeing some hint of shame. While the fool might think it is fine to follow their rules, their willful disobedience to any authority besides their own will result in some expression of impropriety. Fools engage others in their folly, because they really don't know how to keep what they feel or are doing to themselves.  In the end, they rope others into shameful behavior which will bring much shame or guilt to those who get roped in.

- In the end, disgrace will enter in because you cannot pursue this lifestyle for long without losing favor with others, or diminishing your standing in the community in which you congregate.  Fools will eventually gather a poor reputation and this impacts their feelings of self-worth or self-esteem.  Some will take this to heart and will turn to some authority outside of themselves seeking to be restored.  Others will just wander aimlessly down this path, living as though the "bad rap" they bear matters little to them.  

Fools actually don't know value of community.  Community brings us into a place of accountability - as long as those within our "community" have values which point toward submission to authority, a heartfelt commitment of not allowing shame or guilt to define a person, and there is an overriding drive to maintain the reputation which reflects a heart centered on Christ.  Only then can we truly say our "strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of our own".  Just sayin! 

More than a good name

Reputation:  the estimation in which a person or thing is held; a good name; a good standing based on merit, achievement, or reliability.  Most of us go through life hoping to achieve a good reputation.  Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how people go about making a name for themselves - sometimes doing more to tarnish their repute than to improve it!  We only have to look at our star athletes, public figures, and media personalities to understand how the most inappropriate decisions can absolutely destroy one's good name. Sometimes it doesn't even matter how much "good" one has done - the one moment of folly and ill-chosen choices makes for a more lasting repute than all the good!  Maybe this is why we are told to earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes - and in the eyes of the people.  When our choices align with what God declares to be good - the actions which follow will almost certainly produce the results of "building up" one's reputation rather than tearing it down.

Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.  (Proverbs 3:3-4 MSG)

So many people focus on how they appear rather than the character within. Based on what scripture declares, the character is what defines the man, not the image he merely portrays on the outside.  Eventually what is on the inside will make its way to the outside - when it does, if there is any incongruence between what one "displays" and what one "is" becomes quite apparent.  I found myself observing a new change in my body as I looked in the mirror this week.  My once pretty taut arm muscles looked a little saggy!  All I could think was when did that happen?  As quickly as I asked the question, I knew the answer!  I haven't been a diligent about giving my muscles their workout as I had been in the earlier part of the year.  The hot summer days have caused me to be a little less likely to engage in the yard work, or the other tasks which served to keep these muscles a little more "toned".  It is a poor excuse, and I know it!  Yet, what my body "displayed" was an actual reflection of the "laziness" I feel most of these extremely hot days of summer!  What is on the inside affects what we will eventually see on the outside!

"A good name" is desirable - but much "backs up" a good name.  On more than one occasion, I have relied upon a "good name" when buying a product, only to find out the name just didn't live up to what I thought I was buying!  I guess this is true when we consider people, as well.  Character is more than skin deep.  It is the result of things like a heart intent on serving God.  Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes - have a heart attitude which reflects both the intention and the action of living well.  A word of caution here - Solomon is not saying we "earn" our "right standing" with God.  He is telling us to earn a reputation, not in God's eyes, but in the eyes of those around us for living well in God's eyes.  In other words, be concerned for what God wants to do in your life so he shines through for others to see.

Probably one of the biggest deterrents to earning a good reputation and keeping it is our own selfish pride.  Someone once said it is easy to be humble when you are low man on the totem pole.  Yep, indeed it is.  The higher up we go, the more status we gain, the greater the focus is on us. When the focus becomes intense, we often play-act a little, especially when we know we may not measure up in all the areas we'd like to.  It is like retouching a photo - we kind of cover over the blemishes and scars earned on the way up the ladder.  You know, I think people can learn a few things from us when we are willing to share a little bit about the times we missed the rungs and slid down a few notches!  There is something wholesome and liberating about being humble enough to share your failures and the grace which put you back on track again.  

Yep, a good name is important.  More important - the reputation behind the name.  When someone sees us, don't you think they deserve to see the consistency between the name "Christian" and the actions which reflect Christ to the world?  Just askin!

I know "of", but do I "know"?

Preconceived:  To form a perception of beforehand as a result of previously held or known information.  Some of us have a tendency to gravitate toward what we "know" about a person, forming an opinion of that person based on the small amount of facts we have.  The problem with this is the limitation in what it is we know about that individual.  We likely have some facts, but we really don't get beyond those "facts" to consider the "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey would say.  

He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?”  But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?” They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.  (Mark 6:1-6 MSG)

Jesus found himself in that predicament on this day.  He returns to his hometown - the folks who should know him best.  He spends time teaching on the Sabbath - probably preaching a good sermon.  We even hear that he "made a real hit" with his friends and associates in town - impressing everyone.  Just as quickly as they were "impressed" by what they heard, they become just as "unimpressed" with him because they recount what it is they "know" about him.  The truth be told, we do the same.  We have limited knowledge of someone's past behavior, responses, or the like.  They could be changed people today, but we continue to base our "impression" of them on what it is we "know" about their past.

What does this do?  It cause us to "trip over what LITTLE we know" about the individual - never getting any further in the relationship.  The issue is not the other person - it is us.  We are the ones tripping and it is over what "little" we actually know.  We base our judgments on a fraction of the evidence.  The term "preconceive" is really made up of two roots. "Pre" speaks to us of something occurring "before" or "prior to".  "Conceive" speaks to us of "forming".  So, in essence we are "forming" opinions prior to getting the whole truth.

We sometimes do this with ourselves!  We look in the mirror, remember the old self, and forget about the many new "facets" of beauty God has already worked out in our lives.  We see what our mind tells us to see.  This is often true in our relationships with others - we see what our mind tells us we are seeing.  If we have been hurt in the past, we find it difficult to not recall the hurt today.  The part of this passage I want us to see this morning is the "little" they knew about Jesus and how this "little" caused them to not be able to get beyond that point.  They knew "of" his family.  They knew "of" his past job - a carpenter.  They knew "of" his upbringing - under Mary's watchful eye.  Yet, they really did not know Jesus - the Son of God.  

What we find when we look deeper than what we know "of" somebody's background, reputation, or past performance, might actually surprise us.  If we get beyond the "of", we might actually find ourselves face-to-face with someone who really blesses our lives.  When we focus on what know "of", we are linking what we perceive with the actual identity of the individual.  Identity is an evolving thing - we come from certain backgrounds, but we are always evolving as we are exposed to new things.  

Sure, we have the background of those things we are known for - our reputation does indeed precede us.  Yet, if we begin to allow Jesus to be our mirror instead of that shiny piece of glass in our bathroom, I wonder how differently we might just see ourselves and others.  When we allow Jesus to reflect back what he sees in us and those around us, we might just find the "little" we know "of" another is really not how that individual is today.  It would be a shame to stop at what we know "of" an individual and ourselves when what we are today is not the same as what we were then!  Just sayin!

I've got a "rep"!

We all have a reputation - some of us better in some ways than another's, but we all have our "bad stuff" we'd rather nobody ever associated with us!  A reputation is the "estimation" we have of someone simply by what we observe, or don't observe, in their performance / behavior.  It is indeed only an "estimation" as scripture reminds us we cannot really know a man's heart - only God can truly see "into" a man's heart.  

^3-4 Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.  Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.  Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people. 

(Proverbs 3:3-4 The Message)

We "earn" a reputation - it is not given to us!  We gain it by the various ways we behave, things we say/don't say, etc.  We are reminded today of the need to "earn" a reputation for living well in God's eyes - and in turn, the eyes of the people around us.  Well, I never thought about "earning" my reputation in God's eyes before.  In fact, I kind of relied on my reputation being what God saw when he looked at me through the eyes of Jesus!

This is not an invalid perception - God DOES see me as he sees Jesus.  He sees me through the sacrifice of Christ as a new creation, redeemed, made whole and holy.  Yet, he looks for evidence of a life-change - the very stuff which makes up a reputation!  In other words, God wants to see my actions reflect his grace, my attitude reflect his love, and my commitment reflect his tremendous loyalty toward me!

I cannot think of any particular "thing" we can do which lends to what God has done in our lives by his grace - but I can think of a whole lot of ways we can "reflect" this grace to a hurting world around us!  When others look at our response to trial, do they see our commitment to remain steadfast in our faith, or a wavering and inconsistent faith?  When they see our response to unkind words, do they see a reflection of God's love by our "release" of our offender, or our own desire to "get even" with the one who has offended us?

Look at how God asks us to gain a reputation - by never losing our grip on love and loyalty.  As we consider this important point, we cannot discount the next portion of the passage as the "how-to" which lends to the means of never losing our grip.  He says it is in how well we allow God's love to "engrave" our hearts and how close we keep him in our day's activities.  Something which is bound around our neck is always close at hand.  I wear a small silver chain with a little dove on it around my neck.  This was a gift from my daughter, but it really reminds me of the fact I am never without the Spirit of God in my life - close to my heart, guiding my actions, influencing my choices.  

You don't have to wear a necklace to "bind love and loyalty" around your neck.  It is symbolic of the closeness we need to maintain to God's Word, his Spirit, and the protection both provide in our daily walk.  Why the neck?  In connects the heart to the mind.  Neither is able to stand alone.  Cut the brain off from the supply of oxygen and blood from the heart and lungs and it is not able to function.  Cut the brain off and the heart and lungs are useless organs no longer able to sustain life.  So, God's Word and his Spirit "tie together" the mind and the heart - so each functions well, responds consistently, and can be relied upon to not mis-direct the rest of our body!

Maybe it is time to "overhaul" our reputation a little.  We begin by "binding" the right stuff in the very middle of what gives us the greatest trouble with our reputation - our heart and our mind!

Bargain Basement Finds

² Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
   God probes for what is good. 

 ⁹ We plan the way we want to live,
   but only God makes us able to live it.

(Proverbs 16:2, 9)

Have you heard the term "window shopping"?  It refers to the action of simply being out "aimlessly" traversing the paths of the mall, in and out of shops, sometimes finding an item or two we "just must have", and at other times, just getting ideas about what we will come to "dream about".  We are accustomed to the idea that we look for what "appeals" to us.  If it "moves us", we say we are influenced to make the purchase and claim it as our own.

The problem with this type of "shopping" is that we often buy what looks good and not what has the lasting / enduring qualities of a "good purchase".  We tend to follow the "fads" rather than to be making quality decisions.  The fact is stated very well in our passages today - we are "satisfied" with whatever looks good!  We stop short of what is "best" and settle for what is "good" simply because it appeals to our senses!

God's focus is a little different - he probes for what IS good.  That means he has to be a whole lot more discriminating than to just go after the first thing that appeals to him!  So, if I am to be living after the pattern I see (God), then I need for his way of doing things to become my way of doing things.  The idea is that he has to dig a little deeper in order to find the quality he is seeking.  

Why do you think stores put up all those displays at the end of the aisles or just as we enter the stores?  It is because they want to encourage us to buy what we see first!  If they get us to "buy" what is easiest to find, they often get us to buy what we don't even really need!  It just appears to be a good bargain, so we latch onto it.  In the end, we often are disappointed with the quality of our purchase, or the way it affects us.

God knows that what is best for us may not come the easiest to us.  We need to dig a little deeper in order to truly get what is best!  We might actually have to take our plans to him in order to see that they are not the best for us! We make all kinds of plans - but it is God that sorts them out and shows us which one of those plans is really like settling for the "alluring bargain" on the end of the shelf!  

Do you know what a bargain is?  It is an "advantageous purchase acquired at less than the usual cost".  The fact is that truly real "bargains" are rare!  We see all kinds of "advertised" bargains in life, but the reality is that they are seldom "advantageous" for us!  God's plan for us is to help us sort out the "true" or "advantageous" stuff from the "junk".  The next time we find ourselves being allured by the seemingly "advantageous" bargain in life, we might want to stop long enough to ask God if that is really part of his plan for us!

God's only goal is that we will have what is good and perfect for our lives.  He wants to keep us from making rash decisions that end in misery.  He hopes to keeps us from the enticement of just "settling" for the bargains in life.  Remember this....what costs us little is rarely of any real value!  His goal is that we have things and people that are of value in our lives.  I'm not just referring to the physical stuff here, like the TVs or Bedroom Furnishings, but things like solid relationships, the biblical strength to withstand temptation, and the honor of a good reputation.  These are rarely "bargain basement" items!

Riffraff Unite!

 ⁹Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, "Come along with me." Matthew stood up and followed him. ^10-11Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?"  ^12-13Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."

(Matthew 9:9-13)

There is very little that Jesus did in his ministry that escaped the "inspecting" eyes of the religious leaders of the day.  The leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees) were consumed by their "need" to catch Jesus in some "slip-up" of the Hebrew Law.  Their constant scrutiny of his every move began to become more focused on disproving his authenticity as a "great teacher", "prophet", or possibly even "the Son of God".  I am so glad that Jesus was not deterred in his work because of all their nonsense!

I don't think it was by accident that Jesus passed by the tax collection booth of Matthew.  Matthew was not exactly the kind of guy that most of the Jewish people of that day would associate with.  You see, he had aligned his loyalty with Herod Antipas (the Roman leader) and was collecting taxes on behalf of the Roman government.  Those who pledged their allegiance to the Roman government, especially in the task of getting rich by collecting taxes to support the work of the Roman Empire, were considered filthy outcasts of Jewish society.

Here we find Jesus, not only stopping to talk with the man society labeled as an "outcast", but he invited him into his inner circle of twelve.  To top it off, he made matters worse by taking supper that night at Matthews' house, complete with a compliment of other unsavory folks that were also labeled among the outcasts of Hebrew society.  We can take heart in knowing that Jesus was never more concerned about his reputation than he was about the hearts of individuals that needed his attention!  The same is true today - he is never afraid of the judgment of man that would label his actions of reaching out to the "riffraff" as unacceptable.

Wherever we read about the ministry of Jesus, there is a constant theme of the "riffraff" of society being at his feet.  Society may regard some as worthless or disreputable - Jesus is always focused on each individual's extreme value and their opportunity to regain a "good" reputation through his touch on their lives.  The judgmental in society rejects these as the "trash" of society - Jesus accepts them as the jewels in his crown.  

His pointed answer to the religious leaders who stood in judgment of his actions - it is the sick who need a doctor, not the well.  I don't want to add to the Word of God, but I think we can safely say that it is those who know they are in need of seeing the doctor that benefit the most from the visit with the doctor!  When we see ourselves as "well", we often don't even seek out the doctor's advice or discriminating diagnostic eye.  Instead, we go on our merry way believing that all is well.

The riffraff of society (of which I am pleased to have been labeled!) know their need.  There is an intense awareness of who and what they are.  There is no pretense of being something they are not.  These are the individuals that Jesus surrounded himself with as he made his way along the streets of Capernaum those many years ago - and they are the ones he surrounds himself with today!  Jesus is always interested in what others might reject as worthless or disreputable.  In these, he finds his greatest glory!

Graffiti Conspiracy

^11-12Don't bad-mouth each other, friends.  It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk.  You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it.  God is in charge of deciding human destiny.  Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?

(James 4:11-12)

²² Isn't it obvious that conspirators lose out, 

while the thoughtful win love and trust? 

(Proverbs 14:22)

I present two passages this morning - one from the Old Testament, the other from the New.  Conspiracy is not something most of us would consider ourselves as being part of.  In fact, we probably think of that as something from a James Bond movie.  If we examine further, we will probably identify that "conspiracy" is a more common occurrence in our lives than we would imagine.

To conspire means that we agree secretly to do something wrong.  It can be an agreement of just one, or many people.  The other word that is similar is "plot" - to secretly plan or scheme to accomplish some purpose (especially those that are hostile or evil in their purposes).  Now, think that one through - if we spend time and emotional energy "plotting" how to respond to another, make another look bad, etc., we'd be "conspiring" against them.

Okay, so we don't find ourselves actively doing this kind of "conspiracy" work all the time, but I bet we find that we do it more than we'd like to admit.  James reminds us that even finding ways to "bad-mouth" each other is a form of conspiracy.  We are meddling in things that are dangerous to our soul and the integrity of another.  

Our attempts to point out the faults of others in our secret enclaves of others who might "join in" the conspiracy is simply our way of taking the focus off of ourselves and keeping it on others.  It is easy to point out the faults of another and avoid ever focusing on our own.  I want us to consider this - a spotlight is quite bright.  Even when it is focused on another, there is some "illumination" that escapes the object of its focus.  It is quite possible that the illuminating effect of our criticisms of another may expose the similar tendencies in us!

The most impactful thing about these passages is the reminder about the outcome of our words.  When we engage in demeaning, inconsiderate talk about another, we are actually "pulling out our cans of paint" just like a person set on "leaving their mark" does when they set out to write graffiti on the wall.  We "leave our mark" by the words we speak.  This type of communication leaves a trail of "relational" graffiti - repulsive, unwelcome reminders of another's faults, wrong actions, or conduct.  Just like graffiti on a wall along the busy streets of a city, our "secret words" leave constant reminders of the way we feel about another.

Conspirators lose out - the thoughtful win love and trust.  Why?  Simply put, the thoughtful have no "spray cans of paint"!  They have learned that there is no need to advertise the conduct of another - God knows it and he is the one who will judge it.  The destiny of each person is in his hands.  

If we have never thought of our "careless speech" about another's faults as "graffiti", maybe it is time that we do.  We would not want our faults displayed for all to see - that other person doesn't either!

Keeping right perspective

^1-4 Joshua was up early and on his way from Shittim with all the People of Israel with him. He arrived at the Jordan and camped before crossing over. After three days, leaders went through the camp and gave out orders to the people: "When you see the Covenant-Chest of God, your God, carried by the Levitical priests, start moving. Follow it. Make sure you keep a proper distance between you and it, about half a mile—be sure now to keep your distance!—and you'll see clearly the route to take. You've never been on this road before."

(Joshua 3:1-4)

Israel is about to take Jericho - a huge city fortified with walls and a large army. This was a city surrounded by palm trees, rich soil, and natural springs.  As a result, the land was coveted for its resources.  It is a good place for Israel to begin their invasion of Canaan - giving them water, food, and position for the next stages of their attacks.

As the invasion begins, Joshua commissioned the leaders to give the instructions to the people.  Spies had already been sent out into the region - entering Jericho without much notice.  They stayed with Rahab, the harlot - learning about the city and its surrounding area.  The army of Israel had "insider information" on the ins and outs of this city - not to mention an "inside source" to support them on their attack, if necessary.

The leaders bring some very important information to the people - instructions that will keep them well, provide for their security, and act as a guide for their every step.  It is simple:  Keep God before you!  The rationale for this:  You have never been this way before!  You may have expected some great revelation from God if you were about to go into some new land, laden with giants, surrounded by fortified cities.  I imagine most of us would want the "inside scoop" on just how God was going to "pull things off" before we'd even want to take our first step!

Spies had been sent - reports had come back.  They knew the gravity of the battle ahead.  I imagine they were likely a little intimidated by the size of the walls - if not by the fact that these cities had "trained" armies.  These Israelites were not a trained army - they were "green" when it came to warfare.  That would make me feel pretty "inept" in that situation!

We cannot forget the report they brought back - the people are all trembling in their boots because of US!  In fact, the cities of Canaan had already heard of the reputation of the God of Israel.  They knew of the reports of the Sea being parted, swallowing countless numbers of Egyptian soldiers, and their safety being maintained in their exodus from Egypt.  They had learned that they did not even have to "bear arms" to accomplish this great exodus!  God's reputation was well-established already!

That is important for us to remember when facing the next major challenge of our walk (whatever that may be).  God asks one thing of us - keep him squarely before us!  Why?  Because we have never been this way before.  When taking new ground in God's kingdom, we need to remember the "placement" of God - if he is squarely in the middle of our thoughts, our hopes, and our movements, we can count on his reputation making the path clear for us.  

Invitation into a solid reputation

^3-4 Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye, 

   So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. 

 ^5-6 I've thrown myself headlong into your arms—I'm celebrating your rescue. 

   I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers.

(Psalm 13:3-6)

There are two responses to life - facing it head on, or ducking for cover.  The first requires some element of determination, faith, and commitment.  The latter simply requires a spirit of complacency, our emotional response to fear, and a whole lot of discouragement.  David is the writer of our Psalm today - he was in a real "pickle" when he pens these words.  Friends had turned their backs, enemies were all around, and everything he had counted on seemed to be failing - except God.  So, in the midst of this, he turns to the one he knows will never fail.

When we look deeper at what he says in the midst of his disappointment, we find that he is not going to give into the doubts that God has turned his back on him in the midst of his circumstances.  He is not going to give into the disbelief that his friends have all scattered like the wind - he still has God.  He is not going to succumb to the "woe is me" emotional roller-coaster of missed opportunities, delayed answers, disappointing outcomes, and inadequate responses.  

Instead, he faces God - asking God to face him - taking a good look into his life.  He invites God to search him - to uncover anything that is not honoring to him.  Why?  Simply because he does not want his enemies to have even one thing that they can boast about!  He wants his reputation to be pure.  He wants his testimony to be strong.  This purity and strength is proven in the presence of a holy God - so he runs headlong to God, asking God to expose his character to all who would look upon him.  

He can do this because he knows God has been working in him to form the quality of character that stands up under the pressure of life's negative stuff.  It is not easy, but it is true - we can stand strong in the midst of life's "junk".  If we faithfully come to God with our responses, desires, fears, unbelief, etc. - he takes each open exchange of our time together and begins to use those times to mold us into the image of his Son.  

The invitation today is to have a strong reputation.  It is to be a man or woman of God that your enemy cannot speak a negative or accusing word about.  The enemy of our souls is the accuser of our souls - he looks for opportunity after opportunity to accuse us.  Why?  Because those accusations eat away at us - they allow doubt to enter in, they invade the personal peace of our soul.  God invites us into his arms - enjoying the intimacy of those moments - in order to build us up where we have been torn down by life.

You are invited into his arms today.  There, he delights in creating a freshness of spirit, a renewal of joy, and a treasure-load of hope.  In those moments of intimate sharing, our character is being transformed - our reputation is being "re-written" so that the world sees only Christ in us.  The hope of glory!

Don't lose a minute

^5-9So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

(2 Peter 1:5-9)

Peter opens this second epistle to the church with a reminder that the salvation we have been given is all because of the "straight dealing" and intervention of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Everything we need to get to know God better has already been given to us in the gift of salvation - we just need to apply it to our lives.  The very ability to get to know God intimately is not something we have on our own - it is a gift directly from Jesus.

Now, Peter focuses us on building on what we have been given - salvation should lead to a life change (sanctification).  The process of being "cleaned up once" (salvation) leads to the life-long process of being "cleaned up, transformed, and renewed" on an ongoing basis (sanctification).  All with the intention of bringing us to a place of spiritual maturity in Christ.  Peter directs us the allow for good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love to be "worked into" the life we live on a daily basis - these compliment the basic faith we were given at the point we reached out to God in salvation.  I will spend some time elaborating on each of these over the next several days.

Good character - character is often referred to as the sum total of the traits that form the individual nature of who we are.  Our character is made up of both the good qualities and the various peculiarities that make us uniquely who we are.  It involves moral qualities by which we live, ethical standards by which we form judgments, and the principles upon which we base our decisions in life.  If there is one thing that requires change when we come to Christ, it would be our "character" - the sum total of the traits that form what others term as our "reputation".

We possess both good and bad qualities.  Some of these qualities or peculiarities are already "good" at the point of our salvation - such as a person who has the quality of being a hard worker.  Some of them are likely to be viewed by God as "not so good" - such as our tendency to want our own way.  Each trait makes us uniquely who we are at the point of our salvation and lends to the unique way God will move in our lives as we grow in him.

The "good character" that God wants us to work toward is really something that focuses on the set of moral and ethical beliefs we have formed over the course of our life prior to being welcomed into the family of God.  Apart from Christ, the standards we may have chosen to live by may have been self-focused, and even damaging to both our own life and that of others.  Therefore, God wants us to allow his Spirit to work on those character traits that don't align with what he views as good, honoring, and solid.  

When we spend time with God, asking him to reveal the parts of our character that do not align with his standards, he is faithful to point out opportunities for growth.  The key to growing in Christ is really two-fold: being willing to be exposed for who we are; and being willing to re-align our priorities, actions, and principles of life with the standards he lays out in his Word.  It is a matter of willing surrender that produces "good character" - laying down our old beliefs and flawed standards while embracing the standards he provides.  

This process is uncomfortable at first - even downright unpleasant.  This is because the process of transforming our moral standards is counter-intuitive to our very sinful nature.  It is sometimes like a process of battle - we resist a little, yield a little, struggle a little more, eventually submitting, but not without the battle.  Our will is strong - yet our heart desire is pulling us toward the "good character" God desires to see produced.  

Peter reminds us that the very power to live the life we have been given is provided by Christ himself - it is not in our own ability to that we make this exchange of character.  If we keep that in mind, the disappointment we experience in shifting from one set of behaviors (bad) to the another (good) can be a little easier.  All we are asked to do is take the steps of obedience - God does the rest.  He is the one that regenerates what needs the transformation - all we do is take the steps he asks us to take (as difficult as they may be).  What is God asking you to step out into today?  Where is he focusing his attention in your life?  Chances are good that it is with the intention of producing within you "good character" where a character "flaw" now exists.  Don't grow weary in the process of sanctification - the rewards are greater than the battle.