Our Mission

 To present Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to business and professional men and to develop Christian business and professional men to carry out the Great Commission.

Mark 15. 37-39 observes, Jesus, with a loud cry, gave His last breath. At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle. When the Roman captain standing guard in front of Him saw that He had quit breathing, he said, This has to be the Son of God!

Christians recognize the significance of the temple curtain being torn down the middle. The curtain was used to separate the holy of Holies from the holy place. The priests went daily to the holy place but only annually into the holy of Holies. It was in the holy of Holies that God ‘dwelt’ being present in the ark of the covenant that existed there as the reminder of God’s law and God’s judgement.

Christians have extrapolated this ‘tear’ as opening the presence of God to all, to making Him closer to us and more available for us. Indeed God invites us to Him, reminding us of His desire for nearness to us in His letter to us, known in the Bible as Hebrews. Here we are instructed to come to God through Jesus the Savior boldly and unafraid. Yet even here this invitation is not without qualification.

The temple veil being torn made access for the priests to come near to God daily, like they did the holy place, rather than annually and only by the high priest, like they did the holy of Holies. Hebrews makes mention of Jesus being our high priest and we now are priests of God through Jesus the Savior.

What is most important for us to recognize is that God did not destroy the temple so that the gentiles could enter the holy of Holies. God did not lower His standards so that more men could approach Him. God did change His allowance for approach, daily, and all priests, rather than annually by only the high priest.

Still, one must be holy, a priest, to approach God daily. God is not making Himself less holy by making Himself more approachable. Initially, all of us come to God unclean and in need of a holy Savior. In this state God lovingly welcomes us. After our adoption through Jesus He declares us holy. This holiness comes through the blood of Jesus, appropriated as a gift to all who humble themselves in repentance before Jesus as Savior.

Men must still be holy to come to God daily and consistently. Repeatedly the Bible demands we must be holy as He is holy. The Christian is made holy by Jesus but it is only through Jesus that we are able to approach God freely, boldly, in peace and without condemnation.

We may not approach God any way we wish, we must approach Him as He commands, broken then holy through His holy One, Jesus the Lord.

His Opportunities

1. CBMC is trying something new in 2018: Monday Manna live. 10.00am Mike will explain today’s scripture in person. Catch it here
   
   
2. CBMC’s first special luncheon of the year is March 29th. Our speaker is Deloitte CFO Pete Shimer. Register HERE
   
   
3. CBMC Leadership Coach Training is changing the way leaders are being developed and the way people are communicating. Learn how the art and science of listening well and asking powerful questions are at the heart of conversations that can lead to individual and corporate transformation. It’s true with your family, friends, business and personal ministry. This is a one day hands on training workshop with 8 weeks of follow up exercises and Teleclass conference calls to help you to embrace and practice what you’ve learned. February 23& 24 Register HERE
   
   
4.  CBMC needs more investors in 2018. Join the Team Today.  COMMIT now.

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

February 19, 2018

 Finding Peace in the Midst of Change

by Catherine Gates

For most people, change is unsettling – even the idea of it. We tend to find comfort in the known, even when the known is not working so well. Some of the top reasons people resist change include: a sense of loss of control; fear of unexpected surprises; breaking routine and having to learn all over again; fear of failure, or at least a fear of making mistakes and producing subpar work in the learning process. If it involves a complete change in job status, such as a layoff, fears can mount exponentially.

Given this prevalent preference for the familiar, how is it possible to find peace in the midst of change, especially change that seems like a complete upheaval? I only know of one way: Faith.

I have been through many changes in my career – some welcomed, some not so much. They have included organizational restructuring, layoffs, and a complete shift in career that took twists and turns for 16 years. One very dramatic change involved moving halfway across the country with no prospects of a job. I refer to that season as my “Abraham experience”: I moved to a place where I had no connections. I had no idea what the job market looked like. And had no idea how I would fit into the culture. But I sensed God was leading me there.

The story of Abraham gives us encouragement and hope during times of change on many levels. God asked Abraham to leave everything he knew – his family, friends, home, and land – to go to a place God would “show him.” God didn’t say where, or what it would be like. God did tell Abraham – or Abram, as he started out – he would be blessed. Abram moved to foreign lands, went through famine, fought enemies, and dealt with many years of being childless. But God told him his offspring would be as numerous as the stars. Genesis 15:6 tells us, “Abram believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” How can we get through such times without being overwhelmed with fear and anxiety? Abraham serves as a great example:

Seek to abide in the Lord. Abraham remained close to God, seeking His will and following His direction. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit in us to guide and direct us. We abide in God by reading and studying the Bible, through prayer, and by giving thanks. When we abide in this way, we receive wisdom and guidance to take the best steps.

Learn to submit to God. Although it often did not make sense, Abraham submitted to God’s will, setting the example for us of what it looks like to be obedient. When we take matters into our own hands, we are telling God, “I’ve got this. I don’t need You.” That is a frightening thought. We always need God because we don’t know what lies ahead. But He does. And His plan is always much better than ours.

Never stop trusting God. Abraham did not have his promised son until he was 100 years old – 25 years after God first made the promise. But Abraham never stopped trusting God. When I look back on my life, I can see God has always come through. It may take time – sometimes years – but God uses the time to prepare us for the better things He has planned.

Abraham’s story has inspired me to continually stay close to God and trust Him. As you increase your reliance on God, give thanks in all circumstances, and pray specific requests, God will give you His peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7), confident in His goodness and His wondrous works.

 © 2018, Workmatters. Catherine Gates is Director of Outreach & Engagement at Workmatters. Ms. Gates has more than 30 years of marketplace experience in a variety of industries, including technology, sales, and leadership development. She has overseen and contributed to the development of all Workmatters studies, designed to equip marketplace leaders with biblical principles for their work. She is passionate about helping others tap into more of their God-given potential. To learn more visit workmatters.org.

.CBMC Central Michigan 6011 W. St. Joseph Ste. 401 Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com

 MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

February 19, 2018

 Reflection/Discussion Questions

1.  How do you typically respond to change – especially when it is not on your own terms?
2.  What are the aspects of change that you find most unsettling?
3. Gates suggests learning to “abide in the Lord” It that something that comes easily for you? Do you think or act differently when you are abiding in Him? Explain your answer.
4. Think of a time when trusting in God seemed most difficult? Describe that time, and how the circumstances turned out. What – if anything – did you learn about trusting in and relying on the Lord through that situation?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages:

 Psalm 23:1-6; Isaiah 26:3, 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11-13, 33:3; John 14:27

  CBMC Central Michigan 6011 W. St. Joseph Ste. 401 Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com