Come Monday

Luke 5:1-3 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,a great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. NLT

In the passage of scriptures, crowds of people were pressing against Jesus so they could hear the Word. All these people had needs that needed to be met. They had questions. They needed answers. They had problems. They needed solutions. I believe they all saw this man as the one who could meet every need. That's why the crowds came to him. In order to teach them all, he used Simon Peter's boat. I believe the boat represents our jobs. This was how Peter made a living. He fished and used this boat daily. Once he allowed Jesus into his boat (work), many lives were touched or changed. Sadly, many people when put in Peter's place would have made Jesus get out of their boat instead of pushing it into the water.

As a friend and I was driving down the road yesterday, we were talking about how many people could be influenced or changed by Christians portraying Christ on their jobs. If we turn it around, how many people are wrongly influenced by our words and actions on our jobs? It disturbs my heart greatly that people on Sundays will worship, dance, preach, even pray in tongues, yet come Monday after they have clocked in, it's like they have "clocked out" on imitating Christ. We put on our Sunday suit, talk in our church lingo, and dance around the building so we can fit in with the church crowd. Come Monday, it is a total different story. We do everything possible to fit in with the other people in our lives.

Guys, we participate in the filth of our co-workers. Our language is so vile, we could make a sailor blush. We verbally molest the opposite sex by jokes and stories that come out of our mouths. Guys, we have no backbone and a yellow streak in our lives simply because we cant stand up for what we believe. We are not man enough to stand out, so we try to fit in. We are scared of offending or "rocking the boat."

Ladies, participipate in so much gossip, many times, that a person or their families are dragged through the mud so much that a positive thought can't even be coincided with there names. Many times, it's a dog-eat-dog world. The attitude that is portrayed is, "if I can't have it, neither can they."

This has to stop. Is this making Christ happy? I will shout an astounding "NO!" We are to be Christlike. Imitators of Him everywhere we go. Yes, on our jobs too. Imagine for a moment, how many lives could be transformed for Christ if the followers would allow Him on our jobs. Seriously? God has given EVERYONE the platform of a job to win people to Him. But, that opportunity is sorrowfully wasted so many times. We always want God to do something bigger and better, but until we are faithful where we are placed, we will never move on. Faithful is not just showing up everyday. Faithful is bearing fruit when we show up.

Guys, come break time, don't listen to the vile talk or tell the dirty jokes. Talk about what God did Sunday. Ladies, don't drag the people through the mud. Find something positive and say that. If you can't say anything, simply walk away. Standing and listening is your seal of approval on the slander or harsh talk.

So I ask the question, "Does Jesus go to work for you?" Or, come Monday, do you "clock out" on being a follower of Him when you "clock in" on you job?


Pastor Jamey