CONSIDER: I once heard 30 years ago that has stuck with me. It was about a State Police officer known for always being respectful and kind despite the response of the subject he was dealing with. When asked about this reputation, the officer shared his philosophy that fueled his consistent display of character. He treated every person he interacted with as an officer of the law with equal respect and dignity, even if they were disrespectful or belligerent to him, because of the code of ethics he committed to when becoming an officer. Part of this code states, “I will serve the public with due respect, concern, courtesy, and responsiveness without prejudice. I recognize that service to the public is beyond service to myself. As a police officer, I consider it a privilege and the most incredible honor that may be bestowed upon any person to defend the principles of liberty.” He summed this commitment up in one simple missional statement. I treat everyone with respect, not because of who they are but because of who I am. This summarization of living out of character echoes how we should live as believers. Our response to situations and people should overflow from our commitment and who we are as children of God. How we react, share, love, give, fight, and invest should reflect our commitment to Christ and not be driven by the circumstances we find ourselves in.

REFLECT:

Do your daily responses and choices reflect who you are as a Christ follower?

Where can you grow in living out your commitment to Christ?

PRAY:

• For God to open your eyes to growth areas and lead your heart to continual transformation.
• For God to lead you to relationships and situations, you can practice living out your faith in Christ well.