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And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Matthew 5:41-42
Zig Ziglar said, “There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” He had a powerful gift of saying things in a simple way that carried the impact of a sledge hammer. Zig was a believer in going the extra mile, or putting more into something than others might be expected to contribute. He never supported anyone getting something for nothing. As a matter of fact he said if you “aim at nothing; you will hit it every time”! He believed in hard work, perseverance and doing the right things.
These ideas are keys to the extraordinary life promised to the followers of Jesus; a life of faith, good works and glory.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
If you are looking for a place that won’t be crowded – where you are sure to stand out and shine – go the extra mile in everything you do.
Humbly yours and forever His,
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4
Tribulation has been promised to the children of God (John 16:33). Received appropriately, it also promises to be good for us. “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge (borrowed from the Apostle Paul)
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:25
As Christian Leaders in the Workplace, we have a strategic advantage. As spiritual beings, our vision is supernaturally attuned to the things we do not see. Our hope is not dependent on the temporal. Tribulations and trials do not tear us down. By the grace of God, they build us up.
God has put a hope in your heart for the things of His kingdom, in the workplace. He is looking to show Himself strong on behalf of those that will wait for it with perseverance. Take a moment and prayerfully consider the area in your life that is calling out for faithful perseverance. Joyfully join into the Holy Spirit’s work for your transformation (2Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:2).
Humbly yours and forever His,
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
God is a process-oriented problem solver. Yes, there are times when He miraculously “fixes” an issue we are facing in our work. However, He most often works in process. Why? Because, His working things to our good is about more than the solution.
In the process, God is preparing us to be stewards that make the most of the talents He has invested in us. In the process, He is transforming us by the renewing of our minds – helping us to appropriate the mind of Christ. It’s like teaching us to fish, rather than giving us a fish. Honoring the process will take us farther into His kingdom life.
It is important to remember that God owns the process; and it will take the appropriate amount of time. While we don’t want to loiter around in the process, there’s a reason it takes the amount of time He has allocated for our transformation. Open a cocoon before the caterpillar has become a butterfly and all is lost.
It takes nine months for a human baby to fully develop. You can impatiently deliver that baby early, but you will have an unhealthy baby on your hands. Conversely, a baby left too long in the womb poses a danger for both baby and mother.
As your new Boss begins to transform your work, remember that He is also transforming you. Ask Him for the patience and faith to see His process to its successful end. Don’t waste the process by bailing out early. Honor His work by diligently participating with Him in it. Run the race as if to win!!
Humbly yours and forever His,
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
The workplace was created by God to provide man with the means for loving Him; and not just with our finances. We are to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. All our talents should be invested into His kingdom work.
To love God fully, we must love our neighbors as ourselves. We love God by loving others, in and through our work. Furthermore, kingdom enterprise has supernatural power to transform communities through works of mercy and service.
When we do our work for others – to meet the needs of employees, customers and those less fortunate – they will see beyond who we are and recognize the One that gives all good gifts to men. They will glorify our Father in heaven. In beholding His glory, they will be transformed (2Corinthians 3:18).
As you make plans for the remainder of this year, be sure to include at least one strategy and project for the One that you serve. Include others in the work. Plan to sacrifice.
Humbly yours and forever His,
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9
Imagine your boss, or the best consultant in your field, has offered to meet with you every morning. What would you do? Well, if you were smart, you would block out time on your calendar; and you would not allow anyone, or anything, to interrupt that appointment.
For the workplace leader, our calendar says a lot about what is important to us. Meeting with God, our new Boss, has got to be the most important thing. It is His desire to talk to us about our work. In fact, He loves talking to all His stewards – and on a very regular basis.
Consider this: God’s thoughts and ways are above our own; and above those of the competition. Doesn’t it make good business sense to talk to Him daily? How about before every major decision?
Humbly yours and forever His,
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16
Sometimes the smallest words carry incredible meaning. Take the word “all” for example. All things were created through Him and for Him. Not some things, or even most things. ALL THINGS!!
All things include the place where you spend most of your waking hours – the workplace. Whether you are a business owner, executive, or professional, God has very carefully created the environment where you have authority and influence. This is most encouraging; so don’t forget it.
Now, let’s talk about why He created your workplace. Ultimately, it is “for Him”. What does that mean? It means that for Him to be active in your work, He must be the Boss. Be careful: Boss does not mean partner. There is only one Boss.
If you have not already done so, execute this transaction with God: Father, You are now the Boss. I am now Your faithful steward. What would You have me do for Your kingdom?
Humbly yours and forever His,
inLight Adventure 