The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Acts 16:2 (NIV)
Your reputation is what people that God has placed over you or beside you would say about you. Your reputation matters. The Apostle Paul knew this when he selected Timothy to be his apprentice. Timothy had what it took to be useful to Christ and His kingdom.
The first thing that made Timothy an attractive candidate was that “the brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him” (16:2). If people who know you well were asked to write a reference about you, what would they say?
Would they say you are marked by self-control? Courage? Perseverance? Would they say you are reliable? Trustworthy? Caring? On the other hand, would people say you are lazy? Short tempered? Easily discouraged? Would they say you are opinionated? Self-absorbed?
Everything you do and say builds a track record that becomes your reputation, and that reputation will shape your future usefulness. If you want to be useful to Christ, people will want to know what you have done, how you responded when life got difficult, and what fruit came from your efforts.
The good news is that reputations can change. Remember, Paul was once known for being a blasphemer and a violent man. You will be amazed how quickly your reputation can change when you begin to change your behavior. People will quickly see you are making progress, and they will rejoice with you in that.
What change can you make to be more useful to Christ? Ask someone who knows you well. Tell them to be honest with you, and then ask God to help you make the change.
