What About Your Business is “Christ Like?”

PLEASE NOTE:  This message was posted on my blog on September 22, 2007.  I thought I’d share it with you today as it still remains true.

I pray all is well with your day. I know we haven’t talked “word” lately so I thought I would literally stop what I’m doing to share some impartation with you.

Sound good to you? Great!

I’m in the middle of writing a book. Yeah, I’m taking the big writer’s leap (smile). While I never thought I would write a book, the urgings have been there for a while.

Writing a book is such a huge project and definitely one that requires consistent focus. You know, focusing actually works. But it takes determination to succeed.

It’s like studying the word. In order to receive revelation knowledge, you have to desire to spend “focused” time in the word. Whether it be reading or hearing the word, both work quite well.

I personally like when the Holy Spirit brings scripture back to my remembrance, then I get online at www.biblegateway.com and do a search to find that exact scripture. I also love listening to the word. It’s like hearing the speaker begin to say a scripture and it comes out of me before they even get to finish. Ooooh, I love that!

Best of all, I love my talks with God. Often times I do more talking than He does (smile) but that’s okay. I know He’s listening, amen?

This brings me back to my reason for wring this book. I was a guest on my friend, Bettye Jamerson’s World Talk Radio Show recently.  As always, we had such a wonderful time so after the show, I was compelled or should I say “nudged” by Holy Spirit to write.

Now I don’t know if this happens for you but when I receive impartation like that, it flows! I begin to type and I don’t stop until “He” does. Typo and grammar errors are left just like they are until I’m finished.

Bettye’s show just moved me so much that I know God had a message for me… not only for me but to share as well. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll share a teeny bit with you about some of what will be in the book.

What Does Being a Christian, Really Mean to You?

I’m quite sure you know what it means to you, and in case you don’t, I’ll share what it means to me. Then perhaps you’ll sit down with God and talk about what it means to you, sound fair?

Did you know that the Disciples were first called Christians at Antioch? (ref: Acts 11:25 NIV)

Interesting, eh? You bet it is. You see, it wasn’t a multitude of people that were first recognized as Christians, it was the Disciples. And why do you think they were referred to as Christians?

Here’s what the dictionary refers to as a Christian.

1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus’s teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christlike.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

And:

1. One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.

All of this makes perfect sense to me because those were some of the qualities that the Disciples possessed (well except the bad apple one we all know about – Judas.)

I’ll prove it, read this:

Jesus said: “So then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33 (Amplified)

The disciples gave it all up, amen? Now I know some of you are thinking, “I got to give up my house? My car? My shoes? My cable tv, to be a disciple?”

Uh…no! That’s not what the scripture means. However, if it were, could and would you do it?

As a disciple, you have to get rid of YOU! Your self made philosophies, excuses and justifications. When you desire to be a true disciple, to do the things God desires, you must have a desire to surrender (let go of) everything that is not of Him. And get ready for this, some people are not going to like you. It’s like a clash of the spirits. They run from the truth and we all know, the truth hurts sometimes.

For example and to just to keep this message as short as possible, I’ll give you two things to meditate on: What’s your attitude like every morning? Is your spirit “Christ like?”

Therefore by the end of the day, what about you made someone say… “She/He has such a beautiful spirit” or “She/He has such a nasty attitude and is so negative!”

Something to think about, eh?

Believe it or not, Christianity is not confined to a church building. It’s not just about you being a Usher, member of the Choir, a Deacon, etc. on Sundays. It’s your ENTIRE life-style. Which brings me to this:

What about your business is Christ like?

Do you study to show yourself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth? (ref: 2 Timothy 2:15)

How does God feel about you as a business person? Have you asked Him?

Makes you shiver doesn’t it? No? Then you have some serious praying ahead of you.

I pray that something about today’s message helps you or confirms something you may have recently prayed about. If not, please pass this along to someone who might have been praying for an answer.

We’ll talk again soon.

“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Prov 13:3

Until next time, remember to pray without ceasing, speak with much love and patience and glorify God in ALL that you do and in all your GETTING, Get Understanding.

Blessings for continued success!

Regina