Considering A Leader Who Would Impress Jesus
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.
Psalms 1.1-2 describes, blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
The Scripture has many names for the people of God including aliens and strangers in the world. Though our God has left us in this world He commanded that we not be of the world. The beloved Apostle John describes worldliness as loving what our eyes see, what our hearts want and boasting of our accomplishments. Too many Christians are living worldly lives.
They seek to appease those around them wanting their favorable opinion to be received well either personally or financially through their business. This desire to be of the world has resulted in tremendous compromise with God’s word for transforming the world through the evangelism and discipleship of everyone in the world, the work of every Christian regardless of their vocation.
The proof of this reality is in the lack of time most Christians spend reading, studying, and applying the word of God to their life. Most do not delight themselves in the Scriptures, meditating on its application to their life both day and night. They are too busy and too worldly to consider God’s ways which are both superior and different from those of the world.
Our current cultural chaos is the result of Christian men failing to use their influence for Christ in the marketplace, the university and in the government. We must repent, turn from our wicked ways and seek the Lord fervently through the Scriptures and then work diligently through prayer and witness to see all men live in obedience to Jesus Christ.
Our Opportunities
- Don’t let the Coronavirus keep you from giving. Help us win and disciple business men through your donations at: https://give.idonate.com/cbmc-inc/lansing
- Step one to becoming an effective ambassador for Christ in the marketplace is to pray for unsaved men by name. The easiest place to gather for prayer is at your place of business. CBMC helps Christian men form prayer teams. Check out our program here then email Mike for helping getting one started at your company.
CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com
MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
A Publication of CBMC International
August 10, 2020
Considering A Leader Who Would Impress Jesus
by Rick Boxx
One of the underestimated keys to business success is the ability to make a good impression on people we meet, especially those in positions of influence. And we all know the truth of the adage, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. So, if you had the opportunity, what individual would you like to impress?
Shifting from the realm of the marketplace, what do you think it would have taken to impress someone of the magnitude of Jesus Christ? He arguably has had more influence over people from every nation and culture than anyone else in history. Yet, in chapter 7 of the gospel of Luke we read about a man who caused Jesus to marvel. This is particularly notable because unlike Jesus, this leader was not even a Jew; instead, he was a Gentile, a Roman centurion.
This brief story tells us about a military leader, an official who commanded hundreds, asking Jesus to heal his servant. In this centurion we see several qualities which can help each of us become better leaders, even in the often impersonal, even harsh business and professional world.
The leader’s deep compassion. In Luke 7:2, we read, “And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die”. The first quality we discover is the officer’s compassion. We are told he regarded his slave highly and cared enough to pursue divine healing for him. This was extremely uncommon for that day, given the different standing of the two individuals, and very compassionate. How far would you go to care for each member of your team, including those who are under your authority?
The leader’s strategic wisdom. A second attribute about this centurion that stands out is his strategic wisdom. He could have pleaded his case personally, or even tried to exert his official power to intimidate Jesus. Being a Gentile, however, this Roman leader suspected he would not have much sway over Jesus. Instead, Luke 7:3 states, “When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.” This centurion wisely chose the Jewish leaders, people with a direct connection to Jesus, to ask on his behalf. Selecting the right people to represent you and your cause reveals strategic wisdom.
The leader’s courageous faith. The final attribute we see exhibited by this Roman centurion who asked Jesus to miraculously heal his servant is his courageous faith. He had obviously heard about Jesus and His miracles. Despite being a Gentile and not a Jew, basically an outsider to Jesus’ immediate sphere of influence, the officer completely believed that Jesus could heal his servant. What is even more remarkable, he was also convinced that Jesus could command healing without even being present!
This is why in Luke 7:9 we are told, “Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, ‘I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.’” The centurion not only believed Jesus could restore his servant to health, but also that He could accomplish it by long distance.
The centurion’s act of intercession showed that nothing – serious illness, cultural differences or distance – could deter his faith in Jesus’ healing ministry. In a similar way, we should all pray that our faith in Jesus remains strong enough to overcome whatever obstacles and business problems come our way.
© 2020, Unconventional Business Network Adapted with permission from “Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx,” a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more or to sign up for Rick’s daily Integrity Moments emails, visitwww.unconventionalbusiness.org. His latest book, Unconventional Business, provides “Five Keys to Growing a Business God’s Way.”
CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996 lansing.cbmc.com
MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
A Publication of CBMC International
August 10, 2020
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- How did you answer the opening question: Who, if given the opportunity, would you like to impress?
- Can you imagine the tension the Roman centurion must have felt in determining to reach out to the amazing Jesus, the worker of miracles, to help his beloved but very sick slave? What do you think must have been going through the officer’s mind?
- What is the role of compassion in the business and professional world today? Do you see it being demonstrated very often? If so, in what ways? If not, why is it so unusual in your opinion?
- This “Monday Manna” refers to “strategic wisdom” in the centurion’s knowing who should represent his case to Jesus. What are some examples of strategic wisdom you have experienced – or even been able to utilize in your own work situations?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Joshua 1:6,7,9; Proverbs 1:7, 2:6, 10:14-15, 14:8; John 13:34-35; James 1:5-6
CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996 lansing.cbmc.com
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.
Psalms 1.1-2 describes, blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
The Scripture has many names for the people of God including aliens and strangers in the world. Though our God has left us in this world He commanded that we not be of the world. The beloved Apostle John describes worldliness as loving what our eyes see, what our hearts want and boasting of our accomplishments. Too many Christians are living worldly lives.
They seek to appease those around them wanting their favorable opinion to be received well either personally or financially through their business. This desire to be of the world has resulted in tremendous compromise with God’s word for transforming the world through the evangelism and discipleship of everyone in the world, the work of every Christian regardless of their vocation.
The proof of this reality is in the lack of time most Christians spend reading, studying, and applying the word of God to their life. Most do not delight themselves in the Scriptures, meditating on its application to their life both day and night. They are too busy and too worldly to consider God’s ways which are both superior and different from those of the world.
Our current cultural chaos is the result of Christian men failing to use their influence for Christ in the marketplace, the university and in the government. We must repent, turn from our wicked ways and seek the Lord fervently through the Scriptures and then work diligently through prayer and witness to see all men live in obedience to Jesus Christ.
Our Opportunities
- Don’t let the Coronavirus keep you from giving. Help us win and disciple business men through your donations at: https://give.idonate.com/cbmc-inc/lansing
- Step one to becoming an effective ambassador for Christ in the marketplace is to pray for unsaved men by name. The easiest place to gather for prayer is at your place of business. CBMC helps Christian men form prayer teams. Check out our program here then email Mike for helping getting one started at your company.
CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com