The last letter of PARTNER-- R is the toughest one:  Represent Jesus With Your Life!  It's where the rubber hits the road, where folks pull out the "H" word (Hypocrisy) if our lives don't line up with our words.  The Apostle Paul put it this way:  "Do all you can to live a peaceful life.  Take care of your own business, and do your own work.  If you do, people who are not believers will respect you."  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12a (NCV) 

When our lives our consistent with our message of the Good News in Jesus, people will RESPECT US.  That is huge.  Fewer and fewer folks respect Christians in our culture.  Everywhere we turn we read or see news accounts of another Christian leader who has "fallen," that is who has lived without integrity.  To be sure, none of us lives with absolute integrity, but we must let the Holy Spirit work in us, so we become more and more like Jesus.  We must let that indwelling Spirit show up in us at school, work, on the football field and in the grocery store.  As we do, as we live peaceful lives (that is lives FULL of peace), as we take care of our OWN business (and stop worrying about other folks' business), and do our own work, people will be surprised, then amazed, and we will gain their respect.  After that, no telling what may happen, but it could be that they may ask, "What is the difference in your life?"  When they do, we know the answer:  JESUS!  Jesus is the difference, and He can make the difference for you, too!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, fill us with Your Spirit and USE US in our everyday lives to be people of integrity that others may see that and glorify You.  Draw others to yourself through our living each day for You.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.

REMEMBER TO JOIN US FOR WORSHIP AT NEW LIFE TOMORROW!  We'll be continuing our 40 Days of Community Series and look at the question:  What Destroys Relationships and What Builds Them Up?    Be there!!!