Obtaining a Good Report

http://highcity.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Obtaining-a-Good-Report-300×300.jpg[Hebrews 11:2 KJV] “For by it the elders obtained a good report”.

It takes absolute trust in the providence of God to live a just, peaceful, and joyful life free from deceit, malice and guile. You must live in faith if you can live a just, peaceful, and joyful life. Therefore any person who wants to obtain a good report must live by faith. That is how our elders obtained a good report. We call Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Job, and Daniel great men of faith because they lived by faith.

A report is that favourable introduction that you receive from a more trusted person. For instance, job seekers and people applying for admission into colleges are sometimes required to bring along letters of commendation and introduction. Such letters of commendation would be an example of a good report.

A report is an invisible yet tangible introduction or commendation by divinity or by those who matter. The Bible tells us that our elders obtained a good report. They did not stumble upon it, they obtained it.

Why do we need to have a good report? We need a good report for promotion, admission, and elevation. The men who were chosen to the high office of a deacon were men of honest and a good report. I believe that obtaining a good report from God and from people of authority will lead to promotion and favour.

How then do we obtain such a report? Our fathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Daniel obtained a good report because they lived and walked by faith. Their faith influenced their choices and God is not ashamed to be called their God (See Hebrews 11:12-14¹).

Indeed,

They took God at His word:

They heard and listened by the word of God. They acted because God told them to. They took God at His word, and we must take God at His word. (See Romans 10:17², Hebrews 11:7-8³)

They spoke what they believed not what the circumstances suggested:

2 Corinthians 4:13⁴ teaches that those who believe speak. “We also believe and thus we speak”. Speak what you believe and not what the circumstances suggest.

They acted on the word:

When God called our Father Abraham to go out to a country which he shall receive, he went out not knowing where he was going. When God called Noah to build an ark, he was moved with fear and acted. This is why they obtained a good report. We must also act on the word of God if we want to obtain a good report too.

They kept walking even in the midst of storms:

The Bible tells us that against hope, Abraham hoped. He staggered not at the promise. He pressed on, reached for the heights, and pressed towards the mark. There are times when the going gets tough but we can push through. We can press on and reach out towards the goal.

They testified of the goodness of the Lord:

They told of His grace and mercies. They sang of the goodness of the almighty God.

They were thankful:

They came back to say thank you. They did not have any sense of entitlement. They were thankful and grateful. You must always return to say thank you. You must return to show appreciation for the mercies you enjoy.

You shall obtain a good report. You will not fail. The Lord shall be your helper. He shall be your shield and buckler.

Stay blessed; I love you!

Noah Simpe Bediako

Referenced Scriptures

1. Hebrews 11:12-14 (KJV): Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. ↩︎
2. Romans 10:17 (KJV): So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ↩︎
3. Hebrews 11:7-8 (KJV): By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. ↩︎
4. 2 Corinthians 4:13 (KJV): We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; ↩︎