Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Calling From the Workplace
Dr. Ron Jacob
Long Island MTC, NY
1 Now Moses was tending the
flock of Jethro his father-in-law…
While in my third year of medical
school, I met a surgical technologist during my surgical rotation. He was not
like the other surgical techs. You could tell that he had the admiration and
respect of everyone in the operating room. All the staff and even the surgeons
revered him for his knowledge and skills. He was probably the best educator in
the operating room. It was later brought to my attention that for almost a
decade he was a surgeon in his home country on the continent of Africa, yet for
almost 20 years he served as a surgical technologist in the U.S. Here was a man
who was professionally trained to be a General Surgeon, but spent almost two
decades as a technologist. Instead of being bitter or upset, he decided to be
the best at his profession. Due to this humility, hundreds of future physicians
benefitted from their time with him.
Acts
7:22 says, “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was
powerful in speech and action.” Yet we see the former Prince of Egypt, tending
to a flock of sheep, a flock that wasn’t even his own. Imagine what was going
through Moses’ mind when he thought about his life journey from the palace to
the desert. Moses however was being trained for a greater calling, a calling
which required him to use his skills as a shepherd.
As Jethro asked
Moses to tend his flock, God had plans to appoint him as the liberator of the
Hebrews. As Moses watched over the flock for 40 years, he would be
expected to do the same for the Hebrews for 40 years. As Moses was accountable
to Jethro for the flock, Moses was accountable to God for the
Hebrews. If the flock suffered under Moses’ care, Moses would be
responsible for it and would have to answer to Jethro. If the
Hebrews went astray under Moses’ care, Moses would be responsible for it and
have to answer to God. A shepherd is ultimately responsible for the
safety of the flock and a person chosen as a leader is in the end responsible
for the well-being of the people under his care.
God has a purpose for
each of us and the workplace is no exception. For some it might be a training
ground for greater things in the future and for others it might be the
opportunity to impact the lives of those around them. Whatever it may be, our
calling is to share the love of Jesus Christ through our professions.
PRAYER
" My Heavenly father, as I enter this workplace I bring your
presence with me. I speak Your peace, Your Grace, Your mercy, and Your perfect
order in this office. I acknowledge Your power over all that will be spoken,
thought, decided, and done within these walls. Lord, I thank You for the gifts
You have blessed me with. I commit to using them responsibly in Your honour.
Give me a fresh supply of strength to do my job. Anoint my projects, ideas, and
energy so that even my smallest accomplishment may bring You glory. Lord, when
I am confused guide me. When I am burned out infuse me with the light of the
Holy Spirit. May the work that I do and the way I do it bring faith, joy, and a
smile to all that I come in contact with today." Amen (The Workplace Prayer)
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"Never work just for money or for power. They won't
save your soul or help you sleep at night." - Marian Wright Edelman