day 1381: Retorts

"Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ..."

 Work is filled with back-biting, accusations, taunting and sometimes what can feel like downright slandering. It happens all the time as emails fly around and meetings are held without the knowledge of everyone, or the closed door sessions happen when you can't be there to defend yourself. It gets really hard in these circumstances to take the higher ground and not fall into the trap of wanting to lash back out. We know we shouldn't but it can be so deeply ingrained in the culture of the company to do so, that we feel like we have to battle to hold our own ground. Not all work places are like this, but more have this characteristic than you would imagine.

So how are we to manage in this environment and still keep our purposed working lives pure? Paul gives us a verse in Ephesians 4:15: "Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ...". We know that the ultimate truth which is found in God outweighs all of the untruths and around us daily. We also know that the response of love is always more powerful than the retort or the loss of control in anger or retribution. If we can find ourselves continuously rooted in truth and love then all of the situations we face will be of little consequence in the long-run. In the short-run as we live and work day-to-day we can take confidence knowing that if we stay on the side of truth and love that our attackers have less ammunition and their attacks will be received with much less satisfaction. In our responses to how things and people come after us at work, we can stay rooted in truth and love, then even those who make an enjoyment of building controversy will find other targets. So, today, think through the responses that you will make and the attitude that others will see coming from you. Can they see that you are one who cares only about the truth and love?

Reference: Ephesians 4:15 (New Living Testament)