t
Reflecting His Image By Sonya D. Bradford According to the Department of Labor’s website (www.dol.
gov/whd/state/tipped. htm), tipped employ-
ees receive a minimum hourly cash wage which varies from state-to-state. Imagine only earning a base pay of say, $3 an hour. Now imagine relying on the goodness of others for the rest of your salary (a la, the tip). It’s an act of faith indeed! “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!” Luke 6:31 (MSG)
Fear not!
This article isn’t so much about showing gratitude to your server as much as it’s about being mindful of what we do and what we say wherever we are. In this smart phone-carrying, tablet-toting, iPadpacking society that we live in, anything we say and do can be recorded (or photographed) and
posted online faster than one can recite “The Lord’s Prayer.” And if what is said or done is perceived to be negative, it finds a viral home on the internet, immediately bringing shame and reproach not only to the offender, but also to the family, the church and most importantly – to GOD. The apostle Paul penned a friendly little reminder in I Corinthians 10:31 (KJV), and it’ll do us good if we constantly put it into practice: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” About 6 years ago, I attended the AIM Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. One late afternoon, my 4-year-old son and I walked down the street to a popular eatery to have dinner before evening service. To no surprise, the restaurant was teeming with delegates from the convention, and eventually
a group of young teenagers were adjacently seated near us. In a matter of minutes, it became evident that these young people were without a chaperone as they boisterously “clowned” about the culture of our sanctified church. As I squirmed in my seat, my appetite waned and embarrassment began to set in. I very much wanted to go over and discreetly let them know that they were not representing us (COGIC) well at all, but wisdom told me to hold my peace! #1 - I didn’t want to leave my son unsupervised, and #2 I sensed that if I had said something, it wouldn’t have been received, possibly causing a greater scene and doing more harm than good. I shared all of that to simply say this: Let’s not forget that “[we] are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid”
Matthew 5:14 (KJV). This truth has been affirmed many times over; the world is absolutely watching us. Since we know that we’re always on display, let’s reflect the image of our Savior – both in and outside of church. “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT). TWT
Sonya D. Bradford is a member of Deliverance Center Ministries COGIC in Indian Orchard, MA (Massachusetts First). She is also a licensed evangelist and gospel announcer for 90.7FM WTCC. THE WHOLE TRUTH
57