The Marketplace Connection: Reflections of a Businessman series, is made up of reflections that are meant to keep you focused on the connection between your marriage and marketplace success. Businessmen often segment their lives in an unbiblical way and fail to see that that their ministry in the marketplace will only advance to the extent their marriage permits.
The primary goal of TMC is to connect and deepen three critical relationships in your life as you go about your daily business in the marketplace: your relationship with God, work and your wife.
These reflections are practical. As you reflect on each day's word, you will better understand who you are in Christ, how your calling is significant to God and the advancement of the Kingdom and how you intend to work out your relationship with God, wife and work into one healthy alliance.
To reflect on something is to consider it seriously and thoroughly-to chew on it for a while. You want to digest the essence of each reflection so it becomes a part of who you are and how you act. You will find yourself meditating on some of the reflections more than others. That's the Holy Spirit leading you to fulfilling a special need in your walk.
A new written reflection will be available daily from Monday through Friday. There are no reflections on Saturday and Sunday so you can spend time with your family.
We are blessed to offer these reflections to you for free. All we need is your email address and first name and they will be on their way.
Matthew 18:3 is clearly divinely ordered change. There is no two ways about it. You do it or you never get to go to Heaven and be with God for eternity. Ever thought about that?
In the last Reflection we determined that Conversion is the change in us that allows us to be transformed and live a life of continuous change. Both conversion and transformation are equally important and equally hard to do. Your conversion may impact a few people when you tell them you accepted Christ, but your transformation will speak louder than words. People grow tired of hearing Christians say they are a Christian and there is no transformation or so little that it's hard to discern.
Conversion is something changed from one use to another; to alter for more effective utilization. This describes our salvation perfectly. Our first use was to serve ourselves so we could have a better life. Once converted by Christ we are of USE to Him. We are to go from serving ourselves to serving God. How good is that? But remember, just because someone is converted doesn't mean he/she is going to change much. Conversion is simply an initial change that can give you the opportunity to move forward.
Now this statement takes me back to my college days and Chemistry classes. For two years I was ever learning and never understanding. I can prove it by my grades of two D's and two C's. How about you? Anything come to mind regarding learning and understanding?
Here is the big question. Where, as a Christian, do you find your security? Do you find your security in your work, spouse, education, abilities, finances, family, friends, and on and on? I hope not because, as a Christian, you need more than all of them can give you. The ONLY security we all have is in God.
It is quite clear that we require evidence or proof that something is right or exists. Evidence is defined by Webster as something that furnishes proof. The first definition is an outward sign. Evidence implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.
To fear God is to have a reverential awe of Him. He is GOD!!!! We should be in awe of Him and not sports stars, singers, etc. We have misplaced our awe. It needs to be aimed at God and no one else.
Sin is defined by many words. Covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions and being greedy stresses lack of restraint. Covetousness is itself a sin and a basic element in other forms of sin.
There are many Christians who are still in their transformation stage. They have been saved but they believe that is all they need. They couldn't be any more wrong. It's unfortunate but millions of Christians have never fully gone beyond their conversion. Typically, it's not their fault. It's our fault for not telling them about the necessary transformation that needs to take place in all new converts.
My conversion was most likely similar to most of you. One day I didn't know Christ and the next day I invited Him into my life. That was my conversion experience. I can't go through that part again. Once saved; always saved. That is unless you deny Christ.
