There’s no doubt about it – we live in a narcissistic culture these days.  The world encourages us to be self-centered and egotistical.  You can even find t-shirts and bumper stickers that say, “I Love Me.”

Our first reaction when thinking about this may be to compare ourselves to the extreme cases – professional athletes, celebrities, reality TV stars (if there is such a thing) – in order to make ourselves feel better about our “minor issues.”  However, the inwardly focused mentality is everywhere, and one of the easiest places to observe it is in the workplace.

If I’m not careful, this is what happens to me:  I wake up in the morning and think about My day; I ask God to help me with My issues; I get into the office and focus completely on My to-do list; I wonder how certain events are going to affect Me; I make sure My needs are met; I respond to others depending on My mood at the time; I leave at the end of the day gauging success on whether My day was good.

While none of these thoughts or actions are wrong in and of themselves, the Me focus across all of them is the slippery slope.  I’m capable of doing an entire day at work without considering anyone else.  Busy schedules, pressing deadlines, multiple priorities, big goals, and a host of other things can pressure us into a get-things-done mode that puts us first and everyone else squarely in second.

In John 4:1-42, Jesus gives us an example selfless love for others.  Jesus had been traveling several miles in the heat of the day, and he had finally sat down to rest by a well.  When a Samaritan woman approached the well, instead of ignoring her and focusing on his own fatigue or maybe where he was headed next, Jesus engaged her in a life-changing conversation.  Over the next minutes and hours, Jesus poured His truth into her, and as a result, an entire town was given new life.

^“39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” ⁴⁰So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. ⁴¹And because of his words many more became believers. ⁴²They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:39-42.

Jesus ended up delaying his journey by two days in order to stay in the town and share His truth with many.  Can we simply take two minutes?  It doesn’t take much more than that to stop by someone’s desk, send an email, or make a phone call to provide the encouragement that someone may desperately need today.  It might even lead to an opportunity for you to share the Gospel with that person – and that is, after all, what we are called to do.

Click here to listen to the Terry Turpin podcast.

Terry Turpin, partner and COO of Acumen Holdings, LLC

The best part of our weekly Joseph Project meetings for business people between jobs, is when someone gets a job. They stand and tell the story. It’s so cool. Yesterday, a former IT tech, stood and said that he had accepted a job to drive a taxi. Yes, a taxi. We hear those stories every week.

His first day on the job, he was dispatched to drive two women to the airport. When these young women walked out of their home, it was clear they had been badly beaten. They were young and scared. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, he asked if could take them for medical care. “No! Just get us to the airport!”

While he was doing his job, our friend began to ask about their faith. He began to share with them the hope of Jesus. They listened.

When they arrived at the airport, as our friend was unloading their bags from the trunk, he sensed the situation and timing was appropriate to ask a bold question. “Do you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?”

Living our faith at work is typically a much more subtle challenge. But sometimes, if our radar is on and we have enough courage, our work can lead us into some incredible opportunities to change a life forever.

Their answer? “Oh yes…please!” He prayed for them in the street and these two young beaten and bruised women walked away into a new life of hope and eternity.

What is your story? Is your antennae up? Are you “seeing” opportunities at work to help others that are hurting deeply? They are there. Right in front of you.

 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…   Matthew 28:19

So (the shepherds) hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (—)The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Luke 2:16-18; 20

Who were you before the manger?  How did it change you?

When the angels interrupted the quiet of the night long ago to tell a group of shepherds that Jesus was born, even the angels must have wondered why God picked them to be told.  Certainly that must have crossed the shepherds’ minds as well. Why us?

Why? Because a shepherd living off the land is as precious to God as a king.

Nothing’s changed; the lowliest worker in the newest job is as important to God as the newest leader of the free world.  And isn’t it just like God, in a world turned upside down by financial upheaval, to make it possible for today’s shepherds to change the world again.

Shepherds, we need you now!

We’re not talking, right now, about the clergy, though their role as shepherds of God’s flock brings us hope, too.

No, today, it’s the world-weary, street-savvy, been-there-done-that hard-times Christian whom God picked to star as shepherds in this year’s Christmas story.  You have news and experience people of privilege often lack, and suddenly they need you more than they know.

Why?

Because you’ve lived through life’s storms and come out the other side.  Living paycheck to paycheck, you’ve been in the storm so many middle class and upper middle class co-workers now face, and you know there’s life after the storm.  The wisest of you even know there’s life in the storm.

You’ve heard and seen the worst, and have learned to live life in the face of uncertainty.  For so many people this Christmas, their worst nightmares have leapt from their imagination to reality, and they need the comfort of your company and the benefit of your experience.  But more than that, they need you to point them to the hope that kept you going even in your darkest days; the hope that keeps you going even today.

They need to know you’ve heard the angels and seen the Baby.

This isn’t some poetic plea aimed at stirring you to think, it’s an earnest call to act.  God grows impatient with the all-talk, no-action Christian who talks a game they never live out. Thousands and thousands of people who never dreamed they’d be in need are now, some for the first time ever, truly in need.  While you’ve already learned there’s no such thing as complete security; many of them are only learning it now the hard way. It’s their first time in the darkness.

They need you to show them how to move around in that darkness; and how to find joy in the smallest moments during those dark days; because it will link them to the day when there will be no more sorrow and no more pain; that wonderful day when Jesus stands up to end for all time the sin that racks this world God never intended to suffer.

But until He does; until the Savior stands a second time to bring us that day of eternal joy; it’s up to us, the ones whom the angels have sung to, the ones who have learned that this life is but a foretaste of that greater one; it’s up to us to tell the world we’ve seen the Baby.

Who were you before the manger? How did it change you? If you don’t have a story to tell of the hope the birth of Christ brings you, then it may well be that you’ve never really met Jesus.

The ones who’ve seen the darkest nights know best just how much even the tiniest flicker of hope can light that night.  This Christmas, let the shepherds be the wise ones as we point our friends, neighbors and coworkers to the Light that never goes out.

May this Christmas season find us waiting on others as we wait on Jesus.

–Randy Kilgore

Can you imagine what it would have been like living during the time that Jesus actually lived on the earth and hearing the things he was teaching as well as witnessing the miracles both he and his apostles were performing.  Its hard to fathom how anyone would not believe if you could see the actual evidence of someone who had been paralyzed now walking around.   Such a demonstration of supernatural power and incredible teaching. Many did not believe, but many did.

Deity in the form of a man entered our world and lived among us for thirty three short years. He grew up in a backwater town in Galilee called Nazareth, raised a son of the working class and probably worked as a builder with his Father for most of his adult life.  When just the right time came, he was called by his True Father to carry out the work that he was sent here to do.  He began to teach about who we really are and that our true Father loved us intently and wanted to reconcile all humanity, first his chosen people, then the rest of the world to have peace with God once and for all.  That through just believing in Him, we could be saved from our unrelenting sin nature.  The man who knew no sin could be our eternal savior and would intercede on our behalf personally to the Father when we continually messed up.

What an amazing time that must have been to live.  Yes, many did not believe even though Jesus performed miracles so amazing,  that no one could seriously argue that he was some kind of magician. We are still celebrating this most glorious season because many DID believe  and through all kinds of terror, persecution and torture continued to share the incredible good news of forgiveness of sin and peace with God through this man who lived  for a very short time, then died the most horrific death imaginable for you and for me.

Thank you God for the the most precious gift of your only son Jesus.  It is because of Him that we will live for all eternity with you Lord as you intended it to be from the beginning.  Praise be to God!  Amen

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call him Immanuel, which translated means, “God with us.”  Matt 1:23

Thank you God our Father for coming to this earth you created to redeem us through the birth of your one and only Son, Jesus.  No greater gift could ever be given than your Son coming to live among us.  Help us to live worthy of the gift and the ultimate sacrifice He made through laying down his life to save ours.  Amen.

I spent most of my morning  helping a local ministry ISCA (International Christian Student Association) set up for their Christmas banquet tonight.  They were expecting anywhere from two to three hundred students to attend.  The evening consists of a nice meal, some entertainment and will end with ISCA Executive Director, Clark Lasse sharing the Gospel with these students as he so often does.  I was so moved to think that just as Paul did on his missionary journey’s, the Gospel is still being shared internationally through this tiny ministry here in Fayetteville, Arkansas.    Please pray whenever you read this that someone will hear the Gospel as a result of attending this dinner and come to saving faith in Christ.   I was told there would be people from all parts of the world attending tonight.

Lets continue praying for the right things this month.  Please pray that during December there will be those who will hear the Gospel message and that Christmas will mean something completely different to them from now on.

Repent and be baptized, every one of you,  in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. Acts 2:38-29

Lord, may we be part of bringing the Gospel to those whom you have called.  Please help us to be supportive of those who are bringing your Gospel to those in foreign lands, especially during this season of the year.  Amen.