Stepping Stones: Are You A BOB?

Transformational Thought

In the middle of junior year, I moved to New Jersey to finish high school. I left behind a lot of friends that I had known for a several years and shared many great experiences with. New Jersey was different in so many ways…especially with lots of temptations and a faster pace. My big dilemma, I did not know who to hang out with…the popular guys…the jocks…the heads (drugs)….the troublemakers….the punkers….the brains…the clowns. Never thought of hanging out with the Christians, because they were boring. Each group had pros and cons. What I didn’t realize was the group I picked would have a big influence on me.

One of the first days at my new school, I met my new baseball coach….a different guy with a mixed reputation amongst the students. On away game bus trips, he had a saying, “Don’t be a BOB!” I asked my teammates what the heck a “BOB” was and they told me: B.O.B….Back of the Bus-er. Coach knew the troublemakers always went to the back of the bus to smoke, make-out, vandalize the seats, pick on others, gossip about teammates or coaches, moon other cars, etc. I looked at who was at the back, both on the team bus and the bus to school in the morning, and I realized that he was right. BOB wasn’t necessarily a geographical identifier as much as a character identifier. Are you a BOB? Do you hang out with BOBs? How do you identify the BOB’s now, as an adult?

Today, take a look at your character. Are you handling yourself the way you should? How could you be an anti-BOB in tough situations, instead being a Lighthouse to others? Are there BOBs you are letting influence you? Why are you going to the back of the bus if you know that’s where the BOBs are? If you don’t make an intentional decision to avoid the BOBs, you will gravitate to them and they will influence you. Remember, some BOB’s are wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing, so watch out for the subtle deceptions of the evil one.

Prayer
Dear Father, thank You for loving me even when my character at times is questionable and I act like a BOB. Thanks for sending Your son to model the character that delights You and also will bring me the most fulfillment in life. Please help me develop eyes that really see BOBs and anti-BOBs and courage to avoid the acute thrills the BOBs will bring. Help me submit to the Holy Spirit’s guidance as I see who You put in my life to guide me and model Godly character. Help me be more aware of the influence I have on my kids and family, and be a better steward of my heart and the behaviors that flow out of it. In Jesus’ precious name; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
1 Corinthians 1:26-27

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Titus 2:7-8