How can a bad reputation be changed?

1 Peter 2:11-12I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

The surest way to influence the way others think of us is by consistent godly behavior.

Deuteronomy 4:5-8“Look, I now teach you these decrees and regulations just as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy. Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’ For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him? And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?”

Obedience to God brings a reputation for wisdom and intelligence. People want advice from people who are living the right way.

3 John 1:3-6Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God.

If we live according to the standards of God’s Word, we will have a good reputation.

Mark 2:16When the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him [Jesus] eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

Romans 12:2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2 Corinthians 5:17Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Philippians 2:13God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

As we submit to Christ, God will give us the power to change our lives and live his way, giving us a new, positive reputation. Jesus doesn’t accept anyone on the basis of their past reputation and can transform us, no matter what we may have done. We should not think we have to change our reputation before Jesus will love us.