Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17
Has your child ever done or said anything that embarrassed you or reflected badly upon your family? Maybe they said something rude to someone or physically hurt someone out of anger. Any parent knows that this is just part of the parenting process. But, why when it is not your own personal words or actions, and you definitely don’t approve of it, do you get so upset about how your child’s misbehavior makes you look? Of course, it has to do with the fact that your child is a representative of your name and a reflection upon the values and standards you uphold. You understand that whenever they mess up, there will be people who will make judgments upon your own character and it could affect your influence and acceptance by others.
Just as that unruly child can likely harm your reputation, so can your unruliness harm the reputation of any person, family, or entity you associate yourself with. When you call yourself a follower of Jesus Christ, every word and every deed reflects upon His name. People will make judgments on Jesus based upon what they hear and see from you. It is not Jesus who is behaving in this way, nor will He approve of unrighteous behavior, but it doesn’t matter. You are His representative and have a stake in the influence and acceptance people will allow from Jesus. So, with the deepest respect of not bringing any shame upon Him, the only way to rightfully do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus is to do it by His will. Any other way does not have His approval, is not illustrative of Him, and is potentially hurting His name.
With the determination of bringing honor to the name of your Lord, your daily words and deeds will joyfully represent His love as you thank God for your blessings in Christ and humbly submit yourself to speaking and performing works that are according to Jesus’ character. Through Him you are His family, representative, heir, and namesake. Whatever you do matters for His credibility to others.
Prayer:
I give thanks to You, God my Father, through Christ. I live my days with a grateful heart knowing the purpose that I have in doing all things in the name of the Lord Jesus. I do not take this lightly, which is why I seek to understand the character of Jesus, to conform myself to His image, and uphold His approval of righteousness. In all this, please be merciful to me, as Jesus’ imperfect disciple, when my words or deeds are not in a spirit of thankfulness in Christ but bring reproach upon His virtuous name. When I mess up, I will do my best in whatever it takes to restore the confidence and credibility my Savior deserves recognizing that my faults, along with repentance, are an expression of an incomplete pious work in progress within my heart. May all glory be given to the name of Jesus now and forever! Amen!
Truth in love,
Heather
Truth in Love 
This reminds me of the way our Lord taught. He took simple, down-to-earth situations to teach in a way that others would get the gist of what He taught. But it was those that wanted to learn that understood, to some degree. Even His own people understood at times, but turned their backs because it hit them right between the eyes. It never ceases to amaze me how much we can learn from everyday life, whether it’s from the outside looking in, or within our own family circle. What a wonderful lesson to be learned from the hurt or embarrassment our children can inflict on us, and then to realize it is the disappointment that our Father feels when we cease to let our lights shine among men so they can see His attributes in us.
truthinlovehfred posted: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17 Has your child ever done or said anything that embarrassed you or reflected badly upon your family? Maybe they said som”
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Amen! Well said sister. Thanks for your insight.
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