Did you ever think that an Old Testament saint could be a great role-model for you as a Christian in the marketplace today? I can assure you that Daniel is that man. We’re looking at workplace principles from the life of Daniel. Consider this:

Daniel was taken completely out of his comfort zone, away from familiar people and surroundings, into a different culture altogether.

When you go to work each day, you are likely to be leaving your comfort zone and entering a different kind of world—maybe a pagan world. The pagan gods may be a bit different today, but they are there:

The god of materialism and success

The god of “I have my own truth”

The god of sexual pleasure

The god of any kind of pleasure

The god of “it’s all about me”

Our challenge is to remain true to the Lord even though we may work in Satan’s territory. Daniel—and his three faithful friends—were fully immersed in a pagan culture. They worked hard and succeeded in that society. But they did not accommodate their lifestyles or beliefs to the pagan world around them.   Their approach was obedient involvement. They stayed involved in the world, while at the same time remaining obedient to God and his principles.

Have you ever felt like a foreigner in your working world? Well, that’s because you are, if you’re a Christ-follower. This world is not your home. Peter wrote that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood a holy nation, a people belonging to God. He goes on to remind us that we are aliens and strangers in this world (1 Peter 2:9).

But Jesus has you there—in that pagan culture—for a purpose. And when you keep a joyful spirit, it is one of the most powerful weapons you have, both to fight off the enemy, to sustain you—because the joy of the Lord is our strength—and to testify to those around you that you have a good reason to be joyful.

As Christians in the marketplace, we face a continual challenge of walking that fine line between pursuing our careers and seeking success and being a strong witness for Christ where we work. Integrating our work and our faith is not the easiest thing to do, is it? The choices are not always black and white; the decisions are not always clear. And while we may not have gone to a foreign country and culture as a missionary, there are times when it sure feels like we’re outsiders, foreigners in a culture that is opposed to Christian principles.

The story of Daniel offers us some very important principles for workplace Christians. Let me point out some of the issues that Daniel faced which are not that far from the ones we encounter.

Daniel was forced into a job he never chose nor ever wanted.

Daniel’s story begins on a very bleak note. He was taken as a captive—a slave—to another country. He had no choice. But even when evil seemed to be in control, God was working out his purposes. And through it all, Daniel kept a positive outlook.

Do you ever feel that you’ve been placed in a position you never aspired to? Have you ever felt trapped in your job or your company? When you find yourself in that kind of predicament, it’s very easy for your attitude to go south very quickly.

Even if you’re in a job of your choosing, there are days when you still feel trapped—when you have dreams of running away, catching the next flight out to a far-away place! But it is exactly in these times that the real depth of your faith shows through. Staying positive and joyful in a place where you may not want to be is a sign of a Spirit-controlled life, and it is a strong testimony for the Lord.

Daniel had God-given talents and skills, which he had honed. He was a good steward of his gifts and opportunities.

God had endowed Daniel with a very bright and quick mind, and Daniel had taken that gift and made the most of it, even in a hostile environment. Paul wrote to Timothy, “For this reason, I remind you to fan into a flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timonthy 1:6). Have you fanned into a flame the gifts and talents God has placed in you? It’s easy to just settle with getting by. But I’m often convicted that God expects me to take my gifts and make them better. You and I will be accountable for the stewardship of our talents and skills.

Daniel learned how to live his faith in a secular culture. His culture could not have been further from the truth or be more corrupt. Yet he remained true. How did he do it?

Presented by Lisa Bishop

When you think about God, what three adjectives come to mind? Would you use the word “kind” to describe God?

The kindness of God is an expression of his love that heals wounds, reconciles relationships, and brings hope to the hopeless. God’s kindness transforms lives and as his followers, we have the privilege and responsibility to dispense kindness to people at work, at home, in our schools and communities, to everyone around us.

Kindness is not always my default, but as followers of Jesus, kindness is not a suggestion; we are called to show the glory and kindness of God through our words, actions, and behaviors.

Have you jumped on the Wordle bandwagon yet? Ok - that question is not a serious one, but if you don’t know what Wordle is, it's a web-based word game where players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Several of my family members have been playing and we have created a text chain to share our results each day. Sometimes if someone gets really lucky they can guess the five-letter word in 2 tries, other times it can take 4, 5, or 6 guesses. And if you fail to guess the word in 6 tries you essentially lose the game. It’s quite nerve wracking if I do say so myself, especially when you get to the 5th try and your Wordle fate hangs in the balance. Will I guess the word in 6 tries or fall off the Wordle cliff in defeat? The stakes are higher when playing with other people who are all vying for who can guess the word in the fewest attempts.

So what does Wordle have to do with the kindness of God?

Unlike Wordle, God is not six tries and you’re out. No matter how many times you fail, falter or flub, the lovingkindness of God lavishes all who love and follow Jesus. So if you have ever felt like you have gotten on God’s last nerve or “this time he is really going to come down hard on you,” it simply isn’t true. While you may at times feel like God is a punitive God, he’s not. This false belief is something I wrestle with. I can still find it hard to grasp that God is not mad at me when I screw up. Or that he is not going to hold my ungodly words or actions over my head as leverage to get me to do better.

Now don’t get me wrong; there is a consequence to sin. When we act in ways that are unbecoming of a follower of Jesus and when others sin, there are ramifications.

The kindness of God is not a blank check for sin, it does not condone sin or give license to indulge in or overlook it.

Romans 2:4 says: Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

God’s goodness is meant to lead you and me to repentance; a change of heart and a turning away from self to making an about face towards God. And this is not God penalizing you; it’s actually very loving of God because he knows that when you and I live in holiness and according to his perfect will, that is where true freedom and joy is found.

Sometimes we confuse the impact of our actions and the aftermath of poor choices with punishment from God. When we experience pain, frustration, failure, disappointment, and disillusionment in life, we often default to blaming God. When things do not go the way we want, we can sometimes neglect to see our part in misgivings.

Hear me when I say that not everything bad or undesirable that happens in your life is a result of your poor actions and decisions. The reality is we live in a corrupt world and our actions and the sinful actions of others have an impact. What I am suggesting is that we often have a wrong view of God. We think that he is unloving, harsh, punitive, and unkind, waiting to whack us when we veer off track. But the Bible tells us something different about the character of God.

It is super important that you and I have a correct view of God because what we believe about God will determine how we live. Your understanding of God’s nature and his disposit...

(presented by Lisa Bishop)

We have been exploring the importance of kindness and I want to throw down a kindness challenge. 

Before I do let’s take a look at what Titus 3:4-5 tells us about kindness: 

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 

I want to take a look at those verses because they point out something very important when it comes to the kindness you and I are given by God. The kindness and love that Jesus demonstrates toward us is not something we deserved. His kindness is not based on our merit but on his mercy. In other words, you and I did not earn God’s kindness, it was freely given, not based on conditions.  

How often do you extend kindness to someone only if they “deserve it.” When a coworker is off-putting or a person is annoying, in our flesh we are not bent toward kindness. Our tendency is avoidance, irritation, or the cold shoulder. Some form of withholding patience and gentleness. I know that can be my tendency when someone is not acting the way I think that they should. But Jesus demonstrates a higher way, and he loves and extends kindness without strings attached. Jesus’ kindness is not based on your behavior, it's based on his favor for you, the generous and charitable heart of God. And you and I are to reflect his generosity to others.

So here are a few ideas to get you started exercising your kindness muscles.  

Write words of encouragement to a co-worker or friend. 

When someone has an opposing opinion, listen respectfully. 

Buy a co-worker lunch and if you’re working remotely, have their favorite meal delivered. 

Send a thank you note to someone who has made an impact on your life. 

Hold your tongue when someone frustrates you and instead of reacting harshly, be patient and loving. 

Let that car merge in front of you (I know. This one will take extra kindness). 

Consider intentionally practicing kindness each day for the next 30 days. Kindness is no small thing. When practiced, it yields fruit both in your life and the lives of those around you.

(presented by Lisa Bishop)

When you are treated unkindly, how do you respond? 

Think about it, when was the last time you were mistreated, or hurtful words were flung at you? A co-worker throws you under the bus, a family member shuns you because of your faith, or a friend cancels you because of your political views. Do you maintain your composure or lash back with your words or actions? It can be tempting to fight fire with fire. In a world where people seem to be more stressed out and on edge than ever before it doesn’t take much to set people off and in turn react in retaliation with even the slightest of offense. 

In the gospel of Luke, we see Jesus being called out and condemned by the Pharisees and teachers of the religious law. They were “filled with fury” because Jesus was healing on the Sabbath and they “discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus” (Luke 6:11). They were plotting his demise and devising ways to destroy him. It’s a pretty intense situation. Jesus knows the thoughts and intentions of those who were against him and yet this is what he says to his followers.

Luke 6:27-28 

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” 

Luke 6:31-36 

Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that…… But love your enemies, do good to them….. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the most high because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 

Now you and I most likely do not have enemies that are trying to take us down like Jesus experienced. But we are called to follow his example and take on his demeanor when we are faced with mistreatment. God shows love towards his enemies and is kind to those who are evil. That is a tall order and only possible through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit at work in you. Treating others the way we would want to be treated is a divine characteristic. The next time you are wronged, don’t retaliate. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you respond with kindness and mercy.

(presented by Lisa Bishop)

Have you ever had an unkind word spoken to you? What feeling did it evoke? Harsh words uttered toward me have left me with a feeling of shame, embarrassment, fear, and self-doubt. How about you? 

On the flipside, when have you spoken an unkind word or made an unkind gesture? To a friend, a spouse, a co-worker; or even a stranger? I say when because the reality is we all have less than shining moments when impatience, anger, frustration, or arrogance has gotten the best of us and lured us into behaviors unbecoming of a follower of Jesus. We know we are called to be kind, and yet insensitive, thoughtless, and inconsiderate words and actions can seep out of us. In a fast-paced world where stress and division can be prevalent, how do we cultivate kindness in our lives?

Ephesians 4:30-32 beautifully captures the essence of kindness: 

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  

These verses remind us of our calling as followers of Jesus and how we are to live set apart, pointing people to Jesus by pursuing kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and can be a simple yet profound act of treating others with empathy and respect. And we can grieve the Holy Spirit when we act in unkind ways. The Greek word translated as “grieve” means “to cause to feel sorrow, pain, unhappiness, or distress.” The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is a person, not an it. He is God. He has a personality and the ability to feel emotions and we grieve the Holy Spirit when we hold grudges or withhold forgiveness. When we speak careless words to one another, instead of uplifting and encouraging words.  

On my flight home from Utah a few days ago I caught a glimpse of a woman’s t-shirt. It said, “I’m doing the best I can.” Now I don’t know her story, but those words reminded me that we never know what people are dealing with. Behind smiles at the office and selfies on social media there is often a lot of pain and heartache. Let’s remember to be tenderhearted, kind, and loving toward others.

(presented by Lisa Bishop)

How do you respond to correction?  

Think about a time when someone called you out for ungodly behavior. An impatient or reactive response, fudging something at work, wavering in your faithfulness in your marriage, or telling a white lie. Whether in the workplace, at home, or in your small group, what was your reaction when your behavior was confronted? 

We all experience times when we speak, act, and live in ways that are not in alignment with how we are called to be as a follower of Jesus. Ways that are harmful to ourselves, to our relationships, and to our witness. The key is, are you open to correction, or do you respond with defensiveness, denial, or deflection when someone points out a shortcoming?

In Psalm 141:5, King David prays, 

“Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it.” 

David, a king, asked for correction and called it kindness. And when he says it is oil on his head he is saying that being confronted with the truth and having his flaws exposed is soothing medicine! What an attitude of humility. How often do we see people protecting themselves from correction, yet King David intentionally invites trustworthy men to shine a light on anything in his life that was not pleasing to God.  

Do you invite that type of correction in your life? 

To grow in your role as a co-worker, leader, friend, parent, or spouse; to progress and mature spiritually, you need a few faithful friends who are willing to point out when your life does not reflect who you are in Jesus.  

When your words or actions do not align with those of a spirit-filled follower of Christ, rebukes from the righteous, offered in love, are one of the keys to holiness and living a faithful and fruitful life. Now this is not license for reckless criticism. As a mentor of mine once said, “We call out with the intention of calling someone up.” The attitude of heart is one of deep desire for a person to live from their true identity in Jesus. Who are the two to three trustworthy, spiritually mature (not perfect), men and women in your life you can invite to shine a light and help you continue to grow into the image you bear in Christ? 

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be open, eager, and grateful to accept, acknowledge, and learn from their correction.

(presented by Lisa Bishop)

How are you investing your time?

There are so many things that clamor for your time and attention these days and the question to ask yourself is this, “Is what I am investing my time in producing a profitable return?”

If you were to take an assessment of the past week or even the past 24-48 hours, how have you spent those precious moments?

I was on a girls’ getaway weekend not too long ago and we were confessing the time we spent on social media. An intended 20 minutes can easily turn into a mindless two hours, with very little return. And dare I say rather than making fruitful deposits, much of our media intake actually makes significant withdrawals; mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The reality is every minute of every day that passes is irretrievably gone. And whether you are wasting your time on Instagram reels or worrying about the future, it’s time you cannot get back. That’s why time is the most valuable commodity of all, even more precious than money. Is where you are investing your time yielding a high return?

God promises a great return when you study his ways and his thoughts and invest time in his Word.

In Isaiah 55:8-11 we read,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

It is impossible to spend time reading the Bible and not benefit. God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and will nourish you, grow you, make your life flourish, and be fruitful.

So, wherever you are in life and whatever challenges you may be facing, God promises that the time you invest in immersing yourself in his Word is worth it.

The more I thought about unexpected acts of kindness, the more encouraged I was to realize that we as Christ-followers have the great privilege of living out the hope we have in Jesus, in a world that often seems hopelessly angry and hateful and unkind. While we face the reality of what’s happening, it’s important that we not just bemoan it and continue to focus on all that is wrong. Instead, because of Jesus, we have hope—and we can share that hope with the people in our worlds.

It is reported that the great evangelist of the 20th Century, D. L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man who is totally yielded to him.”  And I believe your world and mine has yet to see what God can do through believers, individuals, like you and me, who are willing to be God’s light in this dark world. And it begins by making it our goal to be kind and gracious in every aspect, every relationship that God brings out way.

We know that part of the fruit of the Spirit, given in Galatians 5, is kindness. And in Colossians 3:12 we read, Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Kindness should be our trademark as ambassadors for Christ. That’s where it must begin. We can be kind—we will want to be kind—when we allow God’s Spirit to clothe us with this fruit; to make us more like Jesus.

So, part one is prayer—and a daily commitment to be God’s representative in our worlds. What does your world include? Of course, it begins at home, and you know, sometimes that’s the most difficult place to wear kindness, have you noticed? Yes, we love our families, those closest to us, but they can be the first ones to step on our toes and push our buttons. And no doubt, it works the other way around as well—we step on their toes.

So, let’s begin at home by being careful to speak words of kindness to our mates, our children, our parents—those we love most. Sometimes that just means a change in the tone of your voice. Proverbs 16:21 says: The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. Another version puts it this way: “sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.” I have been noticing lately how words of kindness and affirmation, with encouraging tones in the voice, bring a very different response. It just works! God’s word is totally relevant to the relationships in your home. So, give it a real try—speak kind and gracious and encouraging words to those people in your house and/or your family.

Then, look for opportunities to show kindness where there is often strife or lack of harmony and unity—perhaps where you work. Maybe like becoming more intentional about showing kindness, doing little things, things easy to do, like smiling more. Yes, I’m serious. Smiling makes a difference, and it takes virtually no effort or time and it cost nothing. Proverbs says that a happy heart makes the face cheerful, so keep your heart cheerful and let your face reflect it (Proverbs 15:13).

Another small thing that can make a difference is simply complimenting someone when you can do so sincerely. I always say if you think something nice about someone, then say it if you can. “I like your outfit.” “You did a great job.” “You were a great help; thank you.” The simplest things can make a difference. It’s amazing how powerful words can be—they have the power of life and death. And Proverbs 16 reminds us that Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. A few gracious words in a tense or trying situation can truly be a healing element that changes the tone.

You may be thinking that these things don’t sound like anything much, nothing that could really change anything or anyone. But I challenge you to give it a serious try—focus on the small things you can do throughout your day to make your workplace kinder. It can be contagious; pray about it and give it a try.

And you know,

I wonder if you’ve ever contemplated just how totally sufficient Jesus is because he is your way, your truth and your life? I’ve been pointing out some of the names of Jesus that we find in Scripture and encouraging you to claim those names for your own needs. I’ve talked about how Jesus is your Advocate, Jesus is God with you, Jesus is your Wonderful Counselor and your Prince of Peace—just some of the many titles and authority given to Jesus.

But when Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6), what he was saying is that everything you will ever need is found in him. He is your way, your path to God and eternal life. Jesus was again telling his disciples to “Follow me.” Peter later wrote: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

He declared that he is the Truth—therefore, he is trustworthy. He can never lie to you or deceive you, and you can totally trust everything he has said and every direction he has given you. He is the Truth that can set you free from your sin, free from fear, free from bondage.

And Jesus is your life. Jesus was telling his disciples about his impending death, and then he claimed to be the source of all life. He said he would lay down his life for the sheep, and then that he would rise from the dead to life again. He gave the promise that “because I live, you also will live.”

So, wherever you are today—in whatever predicament you find yourself, your need is met in Jesus. Claim his names: He is the way, the truth and the life. Run to Jesus; call on Jesus; trust Jesus. Everything is always all about Jesus. So, claim his name, his authority, as your own. That is your privilege if you are truly born from above.