[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_imageframe image_id=”18960″ max_width=”” style_type=”none” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”15″ bordercolor=”” borderradius=”10px” align=”right” lightbox=”yes” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”http://highcity.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Obtaining-a-Good-Report.jpg” alt=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]http://highcity.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Obtaining-a-Good-Report-300×300.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text][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 11:12-14).
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 10:17, Hebrews 11:7-8)
They spoke what they believed not what the circumstances suggested:
2 Corinthians 4:13 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.
Noah Simpe Bediako
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