Devotions/Partners

Exodus 20:13 (KJV): “Thou shalt not kill.”

COMMENTARY: Today’s workplaces seem to be full of angry people. Discontent people. Stressed-out people. Manipulative people. Abusive people. Violent people. Sad to say, bizarre news accounts of disgruntled executives, employees and ex-employees entering workplaces with guns and going on shooting sprees have become alarmingly common. In the flesh, the scenario is scary. In the Spirit, we know that there’s always hope for positive change.

APPLICATION: The Lord has saved us and brought us into workplaces to be salt and light. To be Godly examples. To be ministers of reconciliation in the public square. It’s time for Christian employers and employees alike to understand that emotional, mental, physical or spiritual manipulation, abuse, and violence have NO place in the workplace (or anywhere else, for that matter).

Satan is continuously at work to kill, steal and destroy. The Holy Spirit wants us to be fountains of Living Waters springing forth love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control. He wants you and me to be Christlike in our relationships with our bosses, co-workers, employees, customers, suppliers and anyone else with whom He brings us in contact.

You can “kill” someone with your tongue, body language, overbearing micro-management and oppressive controlling spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to sensitize you to ways that you are being destructive instead of constructive. We all have dysfunctional behavior patterns from the past that need to be eliminated by the washing of the water of the Word and the Spirit.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Exodus 20:13 (KJV)，read “You Shall Not Murder” (Exodus 20:13) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.