I have given them your
word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than
I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but
that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I
am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:14-17
(NIV)
I’m so grateful to have a good job with good pay and benefits,
especially at a time when so many people are out of work and scarcely getting
by. But man, there are days at work when I just want to go off and tell folks how
I really feel about them. My office environment is very negative. There’s
cursing all day, confrontations, and gossip. Like the high school years I hated
oh so much, there are cliques: the mean girls, the favorites/brownnosers, the
popular group, the trouble makers, the jocks, the custody staff, and the
medical staff. Like in high school, I don’t really fit into any of those groups
(yes, I was that kid who spent lunch hiding in the Library or in some teacher’s
classroom-the only difference is about 15 years and I now eat lunch at my desk
or in my car). Did I mention I hated high school? I hated high school. Just like
in high school, I feel like I don’t fit in my work environment.
If that’s not bad enough, we’re activating a new facility
and are working in a temporary office space. It’s noisy, stuffy, crowded,
messy, disorganized, and it stinks. There’s a lot of fakery, backstabbing,
teasing, stressing, and complaining. Drama. Rarely a quiet moment. I usually
can’t hear myself think, let alone take a phone call because there are always
at least 50 other conversations going on at the same time and people don’t seem
to know how to use their inside voices...in a room about the size of a small
classroom. Yup, I’m there five days a week, eight hours a day. Yippee!!!
This week has been particularly rough for me. By the end of
the workday yesterday, I was so frustrated, my head was spinning and I took the
stress of work home with me. Daily, I find myself complaining. I sometimes feel
like I’m being sucked into all the negativity. I ask God what’s His purpose for
me at work. My current job definitely isn’t my calling or the place where my
career will end-it’s just what I have to do to pay the bills for now. But I
know I’m there for a reason. Read on…I’m not just venting, I’m actually going
somewhere with this...I hope.
Tonight, I intended to write about authority, but I was lead
to John 17 instead. Verses 14-17 grabbed my attention. Before Jesus was
arrested, He prayed. He prayed for himself, His disciples, and the believers. I
was a bit taken aback wondering why Jesus didn’t pray that we be taken out of
the world to heaven with Him. So, I read it again, and again, and again. It slowly
sunk in after reading it several times.
Maybe, just maybe, the all-knowing Jesus prayed the perfect
prayer for us. I believe God gets more glory when He protects His children from
Satan’s attacks rather than simply removing us from his shooting range. As believers,
we live in this world but are not of it. In essence we’re foreigners. Our origin is a godly one because our Father
is God. This world isn’t all gumdrops and rainbows; it’s a cruel, crude world-Satan’s
playground. Our purpose in this world is to be examples of Christ to those
around us-our families, friends, classmates, coworkers, the cashier at the
grocery store, that mean woman who never smiles, and the grumpy old man.
John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is
the truth.” To sanctify is to set apart. When we live according the word, we
live according to a greater standard of goodness than the world does, and that
sets us apart. We’re equipped with everything we need to survive the world and
not be pulled into all its madness. We have the word. God protects us with His
word. God’s word guards our hearts and guides our steps. Are we living to blend
in with the world, or do we endeavor to live up to God’s standards? Each day we must remind ourselves that we are sanctified
and our actions should reflect that- whether at work, in the car, at the store,
or at home. Even when we’re surrounded
by constant negativity and darkness, we are called to be positive examples and
the light in this world.
Wherever we go, whatever we do, someone is watching. We must
ask ourselves, what do people see when
they see me? What does God see when He looks upon me? Am I living a life set
apart or have I conformed to this world? If we’re completely honest most of
us can do better and have some work to do. I pray the people in the world around
me see Christ in me and that I never forget that living in this world doesn’t
mean I have to imitate it. May my desire to be like Christ and learn His word
never wan. Jesus knew our temporary home would be this world and He prayed
protection and sanctification over us until we make it to heaven. I trust God
answered His Son’s prayer; it’s our job to live like that. 