After a week of special meetings, the guest preacher approached the airline desk to purchase a flight for home.  Ticket in hand, he took a seat in the waiting area.  Checking his credit card receipt, he realized the attendant had undercharged him almost fifty percent.  "It's wonderful how God provides, " he rationalized.  The church hadn't paid him too well and the bills were piling up at home.  For the next half hour he wrestled with himself, although, deep down he knew what he had to do.  Finally he returned to the desk and said to the attendant, "I think you made a mistake."  "No", she replied, " you see, I was in church last night when you spoke on honesty, and I thought I'd put you to the test."  Why be honest?  Because people are watching.  Your actions and attitudes, in even the smallest of details, are forming the opinions of those who hear you claim to be a follower of Christ.

There's a golden moment in the life of Samuel the prophet.  It's his retirement.  Standing before  the nation he'd led for 40 years, he asks, " Have I ever taken advantage of you or exploited you?  Have I ever taken a bribe or played fast and loose with the law?  Bring your complaint and I'll make it right., "Oh no, they said, never have you done any of that."             (I Samuel; 12:3 TM)  When those who've known you best for four decades can say that about you, you did it right.  And that's as good as it gets!

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