Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Embarrassing Endorsements - #8254

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

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They call them celebrity endorsements. You know, I see some athlete or celebrity in a commercial, using some product, and I’m supposed to think, “Hey, I like that guy. So I guess I’ll use their product.” Athletes, for example, can make major bucks from these endorsements. Here’s where the problem comes in. What if the guy you’ve associated with your product is suddenly associated with some not-so-nice behavior; like the Olympic star eating a certain cereal who was also allegedly photographed using marijuana? Oops! Or the singer with the chewing gum in his hand who suddenly is accused of not treating his girlfriend very well? Oops! That’s when endorsement turns to like embarrassment.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and here’s what sobers me. Jesus is trusting me to represent Him wherever I am. Now, I’m no celebrity, but for the people who know me, the reputation of the One I represent is tied inextricably to my reputation. If you belong to Jesus, He’s tied His reputation to you, too. And that’s why God says: “Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17- NLB). You are, whether you choose to be or not, His representative. The only question is, what kind of impression are they getting of Jesus from knowing you? Do they say, “I see the difference Jesus makes” or “You know, they’re no different from me.” God said that some believers were causing lost people to “blaspheme the name of God” He said, “because of you” (Romans 2:24 ). Now, each of us is either a reason for someone to consider Jesus or a reason not to. How is it with the people who watch you every day? I can’t stand to think that someone would miss Jesus and miss heaven because of me.

This radio program references: Colossians 3:17 (New Living Bible); Romans 2:24