On this day in 1809 Abraham Lincoln was born.

When you hear the name “Abraham Lincoln,” what do you think of? Great president? The one who freed the slaves? “Honest Abe?” Lincoln got that nickname because he was known for his honesty. He had a reputation for honesty.

A reputation is what a person is “known as.” It reflects what the person is like, what he or she has done, or how he or she has acted. Sometimes reputations aren’t fair or accurate. Someone’s reputation might be based on a rumor or on one act. For example, the new kid might keep to himself and get the reputation of being stuck up, but he may just be shy. Or a girl might be caught cheating on a test one time and then be known as a cheater. But usually reputations are built over time with a pattern of behavior. So, because of the way Abraham Lincoln lived and spoke, he became known as “honest Abe.”

A good reputation is valuable. Today’s verse says that having one is “better than having silver or gold.” That’s especially true for a Christian, a follower of Christ. A Christian’s reputation reflects on God.

Think of people you know. How would you describe their reputations? Funny, brainy, dishonest, angry, fun?

If others thought of you, how would they describe your character or reputation? What would you like to be known as? Loyal? Sincere? Kind? Someone close to God?

You build a reputation one day at a time and one action at a time. So start now. What can you do today and then tomorrow to be known as someone who is like Christ?

Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold (Proverbs 22:1).

To Do

Think about one or two kids at school or in the neighborhood who have good reputations. Then think of how they earned them.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Lost Penny Day.

1733—English colonist James Oglethorpe founded Savannah, Georgia.

1878—Frederick W. Thayer patented the baseball catcher’s mask.

2004—Mattel announced that Barbie and Ken were breaking up. The dolls had met on the set of their first television commercial together in 1961.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.