"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. (1 Thess 5: 23-24)"
Whether you are in leadership or pursuing a leading life from within the ranks, a leader is called to act seperate from one's emotions. Do you find it difficult when you work with others who act out their emotions?
I was trying to convey a business concern I had to a co-worker who obviously didn't agree with me. The emotional backlash when I explained my concern took me by suprise and my intitial reaction was hard to curtail. EXPOSED: I realized I had a choice to make. I felt justified in responding with the emotional reaction brewing inside my gut but I knew I had been called to and accepted a 'leading life.' So I took a deep breath and prayed."Think about it and we can discuss it later," I replied. Not waiting for another emotionally charged assault I walked away.
You may have heard the saying, "It's lonely at the top," and I want to tell you that it can be lonely at the bottom and in the middle, too. Being called into a sanctifying life with Christ can be lonely at times. The very nature of the word sanctify means "To set apart for sacred use." "To be set apart" is in itself lonely unless you constantly turn to the comfort and loving arms of Christ to find peace and reassurance. I walked away to pout a little with Jesus. "Why," I thought, "do none of my ideas seem to matter to anyone? Do I really have to bend to everyone's ideas even if I don't beleive them. Is this how I have to get along with others to follow you?"
Have you ever been in a similiar situation? Your human weaknesses are exposed and you are at a crossroads. You can set yourself apart for sacred use or yield to your own emotional defense. One choice glorifies God and the other glorifies Self. It took a lot of self-control to not whine to my other co-workers about the situation in which I felt totally in the right. But today I am glad that I chose to quietly contemplate my own weaknesses in the situation through prayer instead. That quiet contemplation exposed my weaknesses as a co-worker, as a growing leader, and as a follower of Christ and allowed me to defeat them. Later, the co-worker I had left to think about it returned to let me know we were now in agreement about the problem and we came up with a solution together.
Here is a To-Do list to think about from 1 Thessalonians 5 verses 12-22 . Take some time and Expose Yourself: How are you doing? In what areas can you improve?
"Now we ask you, brothers (and sisters), To
-respect those who work hard among you,
-respect those who are over you in the Lord,
-respect those who admonish you.
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
Live in peace with each other.
And we urge you brothers (and sisters),
-warn those who are idle,
-encourage the timid,
-help the weak,
-be patient with everyone.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,
always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
-be joyful always
-pray continuously
-give thanks in all circumstances
For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not put out the Spirit's fire
Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
Test everything.
Hold on to the good.
Avoid every kind of evil."
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