Message by Larry Thacker Jr from April 27, “What Will They Say?”
As I read in preparation for the next passage in our progression through the book of Romans (2:17-24,) one phrase grabbed my attention, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” (from 2:24.) The context is Paul’s condemnation of his fellow Jews for their hypocrisy. He appears to be referencing Isaiah 52:5, which addresses Israel’s oppression by the Assyrians. This happened because they turned away from Yahweh. They knew God’s law, yet their hearts remained unchanged.
The message can as easily be for us today. We know the teaching. We are quick to spot it when others don’t live up to it, but we had better be examining ourselves. How many falls have we witnessed? They make the news far too often. The world turns away in justified disgust, and our Lord is grieved.
We spend a lot of energy in concern over what people might think or say about us. With maturity we may care less, but there remains a desire to leave some kind of legacy. What will be said of us when we are gone? God’s people should be asking different questions. We are Jesus’ representatives on this earth. We should be asking, “what do people think of Jesus based on what they see in me? Does my life reflect His?” May our lives lead people to glorify the name of Jesus and not to curse it.
