How do we summarize the radical teachings of Jesus for our faith at work?
God’s goal: Obedience is the key. We are to follow the commands of Jesus. Jesus wants us to love our co-workers. Jesus wants us to serve them. That should be our focus every day. Commitment to the Messiah means taking up my cross daily, giving up my hopes, dreams, possessions, even my very life, if need be, for the cause of the Messiah.
Why do you call me ‘Master, Master,’ and don’t do the things I say?
Luke 6:46
Only if I willingly take up my cross may I be called His disciple (Matthew 10:38).
The reward is worth the price.
Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.”
Matthew 10:38
Jesus followed His call of death to self (“Take up your cross and follow Me”) with the gift of life in the Messiah: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25-26).
- Matthew 16:24 — Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
- Acts 21:13 — Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Master Jesus.”
- Philippians 3:7 — But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of the Messiah.
- 1 Peter 2:11 — Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
- Matthew 5:29 — “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
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Michael I appreciate how in your posts most recently, it seems you are relating our commitment to Christ as a disciple to our behavior in the workplace and how they are linked in a way that few of us initially realize. They are not separated into to two different areas and the more we understand this and act and live our lives accordingly in the workplace, the more we will be spreading Christ’s message to love our neighbors as ourselves. The workplace is where most of us spend the majority of our time with the greatest number of people throughout most of our lives, so it stands that for most of us it is the place in which we can make the greatest impact for the Lord in our faith. Thanks for reminding us of that and keep up the great work. It is appreciated.
Thanks Mike. Blessings for a stunning day in paradise.