Good Boss, Bad Boss

Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. (1 Peter 2:18 NET)

At some point in our lives, if we have a boss, we will experience the "good" boss and we will experience the "bad" boss. When a "good" boss, one that you really like, asks you to do something, you have no problem doing it. In fact you may even volunteer to do something for that boss. However, the enthusiasm of doing things for the "bad" boss, or one you do not like, really drops off when they ask you to do something. In fact, you may even be tempted to talk bad and gossip about the bad boss behind their back, especially at the "water cooler." As children of God, we are instructed that no matter what kind of boss we have, we are to obey them. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul says that we are not only to obey our bosses, but do it with the enthusiasm as if doing it for the Lord because that is Who we are really doing it for. It doesn't matter who your boss is, if he is mean, bad, bossy, arrogant, micro-manager, or if he is good, great to work with, no matter what, we are not working for them, we are working for God. As you get this attitude in you on a consistent basis, you will find that your attitude toward work will change over time and you may actually find your "bad" boss slowly changing their attitude.

Take Away: each day, before going to work, remind yourself that you are really working for God. When you look at your work as working for the Lord, it won't matter who our earthly boss is.

Trials and Character

This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7 NET)

Both the Apostle Peter and Paul wrote about trials that we have to go through. Peter wrote this passage, and Paul wrote the passage in Romans 5:3-5. Both say that we go through these trials because they produce character. The problem with us is that most of the time when a problem rises in our lives, the resulting character is less than stellar. In fact most of us groan, complain, get angry, get frustrated, etc. What we need to be doing at these times is developing patience, because patience will produce endurance, and endurance will produce character, the Godly character that Paul and Peter were writing about. When we behave in such a way that Godly character is the result, others see this. Think about it, when a problem rises in our lives and we "fly off the handle," this will not be a good witness to others, in fact we will look just like someone who is not saved. But when we start handling problems with patience and endurance, people will notice a difference and wonder what you have that they don't! This ONLY comes about by trusting God to handle your situation. When you get frustrated and angry, that should be the "red flag" that you are not trusting God, but yourself to solve your problems. You only learn to trust God by letting go of the problem and allowing Him to handle it. This is Godly character!

Take Away: When problems rise in your life, let God handle it, and while He is doing that, be patient, don't continue to look at your problem, but look to Him and worship and thank Him for taking care of it.

Useable

Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months! (James 5:17 NET)

Did you ever feel like you were not good enough to be used by God to help someone else? Did you ever think that you had too many problems or just one big problem where there was no way that God could use you? If you are feeling this way, take a look at what James is saying. Elijah was human being just like us. That means he had problems just like us and he had issues just like us. He most likely felt at times that he wasn't good enough to be used by God. And even though Elijah had issues and problems, he prayed that it would not rain, and it didn't for 3 1/2 years! The enemy will lie to you and tell you that you are not good enough to be used by God and that you have too many problems to be used by God. Don't believe that lie! God can use you as long as you allow Him to use you. If you have the attitude that He can't use you, He won't. But if you open up yourself to be used by Him no matter what, He will!

Take Away: Whenever you are feeling like there is no way I can be used by God, say with faith "Elijah was human just like me, and he prayed and it stopped raining. Thank you God, use me!"

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:14, 24 NET)

There is an old saying, that "actions speak louder than words," meaning I hear what you are saying, but does what you are doing back up what you are saying? Anyone can say they are a Christian, a believer, one who follows "The Way" as it was called in the 1st Century, but is what they are doing supporting what they are saying? If you are a follower of Christ, then you will be displaying His actions. in other words, you will be walking in the fruit of His Spirit, which is love, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, thinking the best of your brother, joy, humility. For a short period of time, you can change your behavior so that it is different from what you believe, however eventually what you believe will be displayed in your actions. Take today and look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, "am I displaying the behavior of a follower of Jesus? Am I displaying the fruits of the Spirit?" Honestly, we all have our off-moments, we all have those days when we are not showing kindness, love, patience, etc. I'm not talking about those days. What I am talking about is your general behavior, not to dismiss those "off days," I just want to make clear that what I am talking about is the behavior that you generally display. If you can say no to any of the fruits of the Spirit, ask God to show you why you behave in such a way, ask Him to help change your behavior to be more Christ-like.

Take Away: Do a routine check on your behavior, and be open to hear what God is revealing to you. As He shows you areas that need correcting, don't fight it, work with Him and you will see your behavior change.

Severed from Sin

So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11 NET)

Prior to becoming Christians, we were, for all intents and purposes, dead, our spirit inside us was dead, headed for hell. We were wallowing in sin, and although we occasionally did some good things, we were sinners. However, after we became Christians, any relationship we had with sin was severed! That means we no longer have a relationship with sin, it means that we are no longer sinners, but the righteousess of God because of what Jesus did. Yes, we occasionally do bad things, but what we do does not define us, it is who we are that defines us. Look at it this way, I ride a mountain bike, but that is not who I am. Who I am is a child of God, the righteousness of God, an heir of God, and the pupil of God's eye! When we start looking at who we are instead of what we do, then what we do will start to change. We have it all backwords. We think that if we change what we do, that if we stop sinning, then we will become children and heirs of God. The reality is we are already children and heirs of God, and knowing this will start to change what we do.

Take Away: if you feel you are chained to a sin, start renewing your mind. Start looking at yourself as a child of God, the righteousness of God, and an heir of God. As you look at yourself this way, then those chains that you see will slowly go away and you will see your behaviour start to change.

Walking in Fear

The LORD is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. (Psalms 27:1-2 NLT)

Are you one of those who is constantly walking around in fear, scared to even walk out the door, scared to ride in a car, even scared to eat your next meal? There are so many fears out there, but there has always been many fears out there ever since the days of Moses and King David. As a Christian, however, we have something that the non-Christians don't have...a Protector. David, who had every reason to fear as he was persecuted by King Saul, and then his son Absalom, CHOSE not to fear, but CHOSE put his trust in God. He knew that he was being hunted down, but he had such trust in God to protect him that even though there were people hunting him down, he knew that they would stumble and fall.  Although we could come up with every reason in the book to fear something, that is a lie and needs to be recognized as a lie. We have a Protector who will protect you from danger. We have One that will thwart the plans of those that are against us and Who will cause them to stumble and fall and, according to the Jeremiah, fail. When we start fearing something, we need to make a conscious decision and tell fear, "No, God is my Protector and I will not fear!"

Take Away: When you find yourself walking in fear, stand up straight and repeat the words of David, "The Lord is protecting me from danger, so why I am afraid? Even if there are things out there that are against me, those things will fail!"

He Will Answer

I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. (Psalms 17:6 NLT)

David was absolutely sure that whenever he went to God, God would answer Him. This is the kind of faith we need when we go to God. He even told God to bend down and listen to him, much like a dad bending down to listen to his small child. When you go to God, you need to go to Him with the surety of knowing that He is listening to you and that He will answer you. It may even help to say to Him, "God, I am coming to you because I know you will answer me, so bend down and listen to me!" This sounds kind of bold, but the writerr of Hebrews even said "come to His throne with boldness" (Heb 4:16). You may not get the answer from Him that you want, and some people might think this is an unanswered prayer, but it is not. In that case, God is saying I know what you want, but THIS is what you need. God will ALWAYS give you the answer that you need!

Take Away: Come boldy to God, knowing that He will answer your prayer with the answer that you need.