Hi
In the midst of lockdown challenges, businesses are threatened and many of us are preoccupied with keeping our jobs by pleasing our bosses. Today’s Holy Nougat challenges us about where our loyalties ought to be.
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.”
Ephesians 4:1 NLT
I can still remember the day when I got mad enough to blurt my truth. One too many persons was testing me, or so it felt, and I stayed quite categorically that contrary to popular opinion, the powers couldn’t fire me; because it was God who employed and placed me. It was a life changing moment from then on. For I realized that I needed to please God; not people.
Although I have occasionally lost sight of that vision, it still holds true. For me, for you, for all of us who call upon God’s name. We may not be literally in chains like a prison gang, but ultimately God is our boss. Let’s allow this to sink in for a moment. Truly sink in.
Whether we look at Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 9:1-5, 10:1-10; Luke 4:18-19; or Acts 1:8, there is work for us to do. For some of us, it means that we do so exclusively as specialized staff (eg pastors and full time church workers); while for others we combine it with our ‘day jobs’. Regardless of whether we are specialized or not; God still expects our every action to communicate the Good News of salvation for all. If God is our employer, how are we doing as employees?
Were we to have a performance appraisal from God just now, what would the outcome be? Errrm … not right now Lord, or room for improvement, or well done good and faithful worker? Our actions must ALWAYS reflect Christ’s presence in our lives. Anything less is unworthy of our calling!
The great news is, if we are well enough to process what we’re reading just now; we have enough time to flip the script of our performance appraisal. But first we need to recognize Who our real boss is.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .