Daniel and Joseph both had sterling reputations and very similar career paths. Both were placed in harm’s way through no fault of their own. In fact, sometimes we suffer not because we do wrong but because we insist upon not compromising our character. There were several people in the Bible who had good reputations: Mordecai in Esther 9, the seven deacons chosen in Acts 6, Cornelius in Acts 10.

There is a certain tension between keeping a good reputation and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Jesus pulled this off. Someone needs to interpret the gospel to people who are lost, but we get lost in the translation, too. It’s a balancing act. To lose our reputation is ultimately to forfeit our influence.

- Pastor Tom Harrison