Thank you, Jesus!
“And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Romans 10:15 ESV).
Have you ever wondered if what you do really matters in the big scheme of things? People want to know they have a purpose in life—they want to know that “who” they are and what they do matters somehow in the great scheme of things. If there is a universal question on the mind and in the heart of every human being it is this: “Who am I?” The question is an old one. It was on Eve’s mind in the Garden of Eden at the dawn of time when the serpent enticed her to consider that she could be someone else if she only ate from the tree. On a basic level, Eve was dissatisfied with “who” she thought she was; Eve wanted to be more. We continue to ask ourselves the same questions today: “Who am I and does my life matter?”
You might think that Christians would find a question about life’s meaning to be foolish, but surveys reveal that Christians often struggle with harmonizing their principles of faith with their everyday lives. George Barna, an author and researcher of Christian trends, noted in his Top Trends of 2011 survey that only one fifth of Christians say they live life in a way that makes them completely dependent on God. Barna also noted that 84% of 18-29 year olds admit they have no idea how the Bible applies to their field or professional interests.
The inner tension a Christian feels when their lives are out of sync with what God wants and desires for them is unlike any other feeling or conflict. It is persistent although it is gentle. God is relentless when it comes to shaping His people into the image of Christ. He will not ignore their work lives any more than He will ignore their personal life. Life is life to God. God desires to have a relationship with His people.
I felt this tension in my life even though by worldly standards my career and business life were all headed in the “right” direction. But try as I might, I could neither shake the feelings nor ignore them. Something was missing; something in my life was incomplete. Others would speak of having a relationship with God, but my experience was an “awareness” of God, not a deep and personal relationship with Him.
My response was to pursue Him, to catch hold of Him, to spend time and energy with Him through reading the Bible, going to church, seeking out other like-minded persons to share questions and gain knowledge, listening to pastors and teachers exhort and encourage, and prayerfully reflecting and meditating on the majesty and beauty of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. This journey is not over, but I can testify that my life has changed for the better.
A few years ago I felt an urge to write about my journey of discovery with God; about how He is not apart from our work and that a business leader cannot be the best that they can be apart from Him. This Blog and Website reflects some of my thoughts and observations, but today I am overjoyed to announce the publication of my book, What if Jesus Carried a Briefcase? Presently at the printer, paperback copies will be available the first week of June. But for electronic book readers, the book is now available on Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/What-Jesus-Carried-Briefcase-Devotional-ebook/dp/B00XD85MF4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1431350628&sr=8-2&keywords=what+if+jesus+carried+a+briefcase.
If you have ever wondered if what you do really matters in the big scheme of things, or have questioned how to gain and apply godly wisdom in work situations, or have struggled to find peace amidst the tumult and uncertainty that all businesses operate within, it is my hope this book encourage you, uplifts you, and draws you nearer to God. I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to write this book. To Him be the glory and honor, now and forever.