Shine On!

“Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”  Ephesians 6:5-9

The most difficult aspect of many people’s vocation is not found in trying to do their job but involves dealing with the contradictory environment in which they must work. Those around you may be living a life contrary to everything you believe or hold sacred. Your way of life may come under ridicule and open scorn by fellow employees and maybe even by your boss.

Well, that’s to be expected since the light of Christ within you exposes the darkness in which those around you live and work. They are most comfortable when concealed in darkness and feel threatened when any ray of light reveals the awful condition they try so desperately to hide.
   
Jesus understood this and clarified it in His conversation with Nicodemus. He said, “And men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19-20).

You spend eight hours a day on the job with people whose only insight into Christ will come as a result of watching your daily life. Don’t let what you do discredit everything you say. Jesus said, “He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12). Shine on.

The world crowns success, but God crowns faithfulness.