12 “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.
This man named Ananias was respected in his community because his character reflected his Master. He obeyed the Law and had become a believer in Jesus. His life reflected the character of God. He lived a life of discipline. He was not inconsistent in his religious observances. To put it in today’s terms, he lived his beliefs every day of the week. When he said you could count on God, he showed you by being able to count on him. If he said God saw the needs of the poor and cared about them, he showed it by providing from his own means what the poor needed. His actions were in line with his belief system. His actions brought glory to God. So when those with whom he was living saw his actions over time they knew he was a person who cared deeply about God and about them. He kept his word. Because he was consistent in his actions he was respected in the community. That is what we don’t like about our politicians. We see the inconsistencies and we balk at their authority over us. We want them to live their words, but we get to see a double standard. Tax evasion, extramarital affairs, bribes, influence peddling, backroom deal making. These are par for our political course. No wonder those of us who are struggling to make ends meet rebel against their “solutions” to our issues. Their solutions do nothing but give them more power over our lives. Their words don’t get matched to their actions. Ananias’ words and actions matched. That brought respect from those around him. The strength of our character is measured not by what we say, but what we do. If they are consistent, then we gain respect. If they are not consistent, we lose respect. Which path are you on today? Gaining or losing respect?
The Arnold Journey 