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Declare Your Independence

Devotions/Partners

Image by mohamed Hassan / Pixabay . Used with Permission.

Galatians 5:1 (KJV): “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

COMMENTARY: As Paul went on his missionary journeys and returned to visit the churches he had helped to plant, he was astounded by Christians who had been set free by trusting Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit, only to gradually go back into emotional, mental, physical, financial, political and spiritual bondage.

APPLICATION: Perhaps today is the day for you to finally declare your independence from the world’s way of doing business once and for all:

1) As a Christian, I AM FREE to do my job with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

2) As a Christian, I AM FREE to abide in God’s call as a “minister in the marketplace.” I have the liberty to be a Godly employer or employee in word and in deed.

3) As a Christian, I AM FREE from being manipulated by other people including customers, bosses, employees and suppliers. I am free from manipulating others. I have the liberty to build win-win relationships.

4) As a Christian, I AM FREE of covetousness. I have the liberty to lay up my treasures in heaven instead of here on earth. I am free from jealousy over my peer’s power, positions and possessions. I am free to avoid debt, to pay my taxes, to compensate people fairly and on-time, and to avoid the accumulation of material goods that have no eternal value.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Malachi 3:8-12 (KJV),read Both Sin and Hope Remain Present in Work (Malachi 1:1-4:6) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Macro- and Micro-Creativity @ Work

Devotions/Partners

Image by aliwigle / pixabay. Used with Permission.

Psalm 33:3-9 (KJV): “Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

COMMENTARY: Looking at the competitive landscape, what advantages do you and your organization possess that can help you to survive and prosper in the days ahead? One advantage, perhaps under-utilized, is “creativity.

Over the decades of my career, I’ve been amazed by the creativity of some people and organizations. For example, one of my all-time “heroes” is Walt Disney. Growing up, I’d watch the Wonderful World of Disney on television on Sunday nights. I’d see Disney movies. During the summer of America’s Bicentennial in 1976, I worked for the Entertainment Division of Walt Disney World and went through what later turned into Disney University. Creativity was ingrained in the culture, and it oozed in every way, from the “macro” (big picture) to the “micro” (details).

Creativity is the ability to create rather than imitate; to cause what did not exist to exist. Historically, America’s culture of freedom has bred creativity and innovation. The capacity to be creative comes from the Creator; we’re made in His image, so we are by nature, inherently creative. However, in our fallen, sinful condition, not all creativity is good. Just think of criminals who can be very creative, but they foolishly and wrongly apply creativity in harmful, destructive and evil ways.   

As Christ-followers, we’re adopted children of the Creator with His Spirit dwelling within us. This Holy Spirit is the source of 100% “good” creativity. Therefore, to abound in good creativity, it’s wise for you and me to be full of the Holy Spirit. He can make us supernaturally innovative, flexible and adaptable to change in ways that are constructive and beneficial for ourselves and others. 

APPLICATION: Through the Holy Spirit, Christians in the workplace should be the most creative business owners, executives, managers, and employees on earth. As God’s creativity flows in and through us, we can prayerfully apply it and be pioneers, causing others to imitate us.

As you seek to be creative and pioneering, let me share a word of caution: Creativity that isn’t controlled by the Holy Spirit can become overheated, impulsive, impetuous, impatient, easily bored or unreasonable. By the same token, you don’t want to inhibit and restrict the flow of creativity. With Spirit-led creativity, there’s a healthy balance.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Luke 19:8 (KJV), read Taxing Issues (Luke 19:1-10; 20:20-26) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Acquainted with Grief @ Work

Devotions / Partners

Image by Mariya / Pixabay. Used with Permission

Isaiah 53:3 (KJV): “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV): “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

COMMENTARY: Palm Sunday, March 28 marks the start of the 22nd annual Joy At Work Week sponsored by Northeast Christians At Work. Since our first event in 2000, our mantra has been “Your Glow Should Show Who You Know.”

As a Christ-follower, if you really believe what you say you believe–that through God’s amazing grace through faith in Jesus, your sins are forgiven, you’ve received the free gift of eternal life in heaven and the gift of the Holy Spirit–then you should be the most joyful employer or employee at your workplace. A consistently grumpy Christian at work is a contradiction of terms.

APPLICATION: Lest you think that being joyful at work is some kind of whimsical, naïve, idealistic fairy tale pipedream, being joyful at work doesn’t exclude you from being acquainted with grief. It doesn’t give you a free pass from sorrow, pain, distress, frustration and discouragement. It doesn’t mean that you won’t be despised, persecuted or rejected. It doesn’t mean that you won’t experience suffering. But throughout the journey, you will still have joy inside as you abide with the Lord and look forward to spending eternity with Him.

If Jesus was acquainted with grief and suffering and we are His disciples, then WE will also be acquainted with grief and suffering. Don’t let grief in your workplace rob you of the joy the Holy Spirit can and wants to give you. As His joy shines through you, it will be a vibrant testimony to the co-workers, customers, and suppliers with whom you work.  

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about 2 Peter 1:5-8 (KJV), read Depending on God (James 1:5–18) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.