Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Acts 4:36, “And Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus.”

Background

In our type of work, we deal with a multitude of farmers from Mexico. And for many of these farmers, it is not uncommon for us to have several different names by which we reference them. They may have a business name for their farm, a different name for the packing shed they use, another name for the label they put on their product, and then of course their own personal name. But within our company, there can be some confusion as one person uses one of the names and the listener doesn’t have a clue who they are talking about. Our QC guy might use their farm name because he spends so much of his time out in their fields. But our operations guy might only know them by their packing shed name, since he deals mainly with the warehouse. We accounting guys might have heard of them as their farming business name, since that is what is on the paperwork. And the group that worked with the farmer directly knows him best by his own name. And to each person, it makes perfect sense. They know the farmer by the area in which they deal with them. It’s the same farmer, and the same product, but different names for each situation.

Application

And thinking about that, it reminded me of the different situations that Jesus put Himself in. In the temple, of course, but also in a tax collector’s house, and befriending prostitutes. He fed thousands of strangers on the hillside and taught the Pharisee Nicodemus at night. So many different situations, but always the same Jesus. Maybe that’s why we’re uncomfortable when we hear of believers going to bars or hanging out in questionable locations. We wonder if they’re being the same as when we see them in church. We know our own weaknesses, so it’s hard not to suppose. But no matter where you are, you need to be the same. But if you don’t look at all of life as your mission field, then you probably have a work you, and a weekend you, and a church you. But should you? There’s only one Jesus. He did God’s will at every turn. How many of you are there, and which one is doing what?

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God to make you His representative everywhere you go. Confess to Him the times that you check Him at the door and put on a different you for a different crowd.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words