Let’s face it. We’re all in a battle; kingdom versus our flesh. Ask anyone if they want to win the battle, and I suspect it would be quite rare to find someone who wouldn’t respond with a resounding ‘yes’.
What is more uncommon is an authentic, well-thought-out answer to the following question.
“Are you willing to do the work to win?”
The answer to this question reflects the mindset of every person who claims Christ. As Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) small business Mavericks, we must proclaim…
Over the past weeks I have been focusing on what we strongly suggest as the…
starting point
for every Maverick small business leader – your mindset!
The Maverick resolves to humbly do the work of growing a mindset focused on “things above and not on earthly things”, “what the spirit desires” and not what the “flesh desires”. A Maverick small business leader knows that a Christ-centered mindset is core to living in the kingdom.
Get this one right and the ripple effect will profoundly impact your world for good. Get it wrong and the opposite will occur.
I firmly believe that this is at the heart of why the Christian community is so challenged, at times, to make a positive difference in marriages, homes, workplaces and community.
Observe Mavericks who live well, in the midst of adversity and challenge, and you will undoubtedly note that they make Christ-centered choices in the midst of the “every day”. Watch closely and you will see that the “secret to their success” is in the myriad of small attitude and action decisions that continue to move them in a kingdom direction. This is the display of “a mindset on what the spirit desires”(Romans 8:5-6 NIV)
Why do I continue to press the topic of mindset? I can say it best through the following story.
“A pastor had just finished delivering a provocative sermon. His conviction was that the topic was core to the health of his community. With that in mind, his delivery was pointed, passionate and compelling.
As he was greeting people exiting the church that Sunday morning, the response from those attending was filled with high praise and thanks for the pastors willingness and courage to “lay things out on the table”.
The following Sunday morning the pastor rose to address the community. With the same vigor he delivered, word for word, the same sermon again.
He could tell that the congregation was politely receiving what they knew to sound more than just a bit familiar from what was preached the previous week. Although they were somewhat confused, and thinking that maybe he had forgotten the fact that this was the same sermon from last week, they again praised him for a well delivered sermon as they left the building.
The following Sunday the pastor delivered the same sermon for the third time in a row. Now the congregation was visibly confused. Some were concerned. Others frustrated. Others were not really caring. A few did not even notice.
With members now pressing the elders to address this issue, a meeting was held to find out what was happening. The elders expressed their concerns and the pastor respectfully noted them. When it came time for the pastor to address his elders’ board he said…
“I am more than aware that I have delivered the same sermon three times in a row. I am prepared to continue to do so until we begin to put into practice what I have been teaching!”
My conviction is the same. As Mavericks we must be committed to putting into practice, in the every day little things of attitude and action, what we know to be true. To say we know and not do is then, at one level, to not have known at all!
In Philippians 4: 8 – 9 (MSG) the apostle Paul brings this point home for us.
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”
So what’s your will to do the work to win – to put into practice all that you need to do to be the man or woman God has called you to be?
A Maverick Application:
- Read and prayerfully reflect on Philippians 4:8-9 NIV.
- Ask God to show you where you are enjoying His fruit in your life as you partner with Him, “put(ting) into practice” what He has for you at work, home and community. Enjoy “giving thanks” for His work in you and through you.. Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
- What attitudes and actions are you aware of needing to practice more “on what the spirit desires”? Colossians 3:1-17 NLT
