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. 

“I did not hide your righteousness in my heart; I spoke about your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal your constant love and truth from the great assembly.” Psalms 40:10 CSB https://bible.com/bible/1713/psa.40.10.CSB 

How can I respond best to my God, Who saved me from the penalty of my sins and promised me life eternal with Him and all those who have ever loved Him? I respond best when I help others receive the same pardon I have received so they can inherit the same eternal life I look forward to receiving. All people everywhere need a Savior. 

God has chosen to make the knowledge of Him as Savior the ministry of those who have understood and obeyed His command to become reconciled to God through Jesus, that Savior. All people are born corrupt and rebellious against God, so it makes the message about our necessity to repent and obey God somewhat contentious among those who have yet to believe and so are unwilling to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. 

Nevertheless, the willingness, the effort, the attempt to reconcile all people to God through Jesus is the mission of every Christian who desires to please God and to fulfill their ultimate purpose for remaining here on earth instead of home in heaven awaiting the ultimate destination of a new earth where Jesus reigns forever and ever. If we love God, we will obey His commands, and His command is for us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything He has commanded. 

Our Opportunities 

1. Your opportunity to share the gospel with men through hearing the testimony of a fellow Christian business leader is set for March 21. All you need to do is commit to attending the date with a man who needs Jesus. Create a list of potential invitees and pray for them. Build your relational capital with them so they will accept your invite when you invite them to lunch. Learn more and register here.
2. CBMC National Men's Conference October 3-5 in St. Louis, MO. Plan to join and to meet new brothers who love the Lord and are serving Him in the marketplace across America. Mark your calendar busy for those dates then watch for details to come soon.
3. Join CBMC men for prayer and Bible study every Friday morning 8-9am at Panera Frandor 

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

February 12, 2024 

Confirming The Work Of Our Hands

By Robert J. Tamasy 

How would you evaluate your current work situation? Is it the best job you have ever had? Is it adequate for the moment, but only a steppingstone for where you would like your career to go in the future? Are you actively looking for a better opportunity? Or is it a situation where you feel stuck, making it a daily challenge just to get out of bed and show up for work? 

Most of us have probably been in two or three of those circumstances at least once. Even the best job, we must admit, is not perfect. The “ideal job” will still have elements we wish we could change; any time people are involved, there will be problems. 

The question is, how are we doing in the job we presently have, whether we are excited to go to work every day or not? This is particularly important for those who are followers of Jesus, recognizing we are called to be “Christ’s ambassadors,” as 2 Corinthians 5:20 describes us. Are we difference-makers, reflecting the light of Christ to our employers, colleagues, customers, and others we encounter every day, or are we like coworkers who grumble and complain throughout the day? 

In Psalm 90:17 we read this compelling request: “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.” There might be times when we look longingly toward other job opportunities, but as someone has observed, God expects us to serve and represent Him where we are – we certainly cannot serve and represent Him where we are not. 

How do we go about reconciling our current work situation – good or bad – with our calling to be disciples of Jesus Christ wherever we go? Here are some principles from the Scriptures that can help: 

We are to approach our work with peace and thankfulness. When we handle difficult situations with grace and joy, other people will notice. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful…. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:15,17). 

We are to display the light of Christ through our work, as well as through our words. In a world dominated by darkness and evil, our faith in the Lord will shine ever more brightly. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…. In the same way, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). 

We are to reflect Christ’s presence through our pursuit of excellence. God does everything well. As His children, we should strive to do the same. “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29). 

We are to become known for our honesty and integrity. In working environments where compromise is so common, we can stand out by our commitment to being honest and upholding integrity in all of our dealings. “Honest scales and balances are from the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of His making” (Proverbs 16:11). “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3). 

© 2024. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

.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

February 12, 2024

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. Four different work scenarios are described, ranging from loving our jobs to feeling stuck in situations we struggle with every day. Describe your current circumstances and how you are dealing with them.
2. What do you think of the psalmist’s request for God to “establish the work of our hands”? Another translation expresses it as “confirm for us the work of our hands,” as if God were saying, “Trust Me. I have you exactly where I want you, at least for now.” Do you sense this is true for you? Explain your answer.
3. Imagine you are in a court of law, and someone accuses you of being “Christ’s ambassador.” Do you think there would be enough evidence to convict you? Why or why not?
4. We are commanded to “let our light shine” in such a way that others will notice and ultimately, give glory to God. What do you think this means in a practical, everyday way – what does it look like? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 17:27, 27:17; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Colossians 3:23-24 

Challenge for This Week 

Seeking to serve and effectively represent Jesus Christ in the secular, often godless workplace can seem like a lonely, even overwhelming challenge. We cannot do this successfully on our own – and God does not expect us to do so. If your desire is to be known as a person who is living for Jesus where you work, it will be easier if you find other people for mutual support and encouragement. You may currently be in a CBMC group – a Connect 3 team, a Young Professionals or Trusted Advisors group – where you can find this kind of help. If not, pray about starting or becoming part of a group of likeminded people committed to serving Christ in the marketplace. 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com