Sticking Your Neck Out
There was one person who was in a position of authority but always seemed to make life difficult for other workers.
Reference: v.20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill… (TNIV Bible)
Explore: No matter how great your work place is there always seems to be one person who creates issues for others. These issues came to a head recently for a friend of mine in his work place. There was one person who was in a position of authority but always seemed to make life difficult for other workers. My friend decided to go into bat for his colleagues and explained to the boss the issues this one person was causing. The boss was open to my friend’s conversation but when they went and chatted to the other workers they shut down and didn’t say anything. This made my friend look like a dobber when really he was just trying to bring the issues to the surface. He was so hurt by his colleagues leaving him out to dry when he was only trying to make work life easier for them.
Application: It’s always hurtful when you stick your neck out for someone and you are the one that gets hurt. But you are not alone. That was like a constant occurrence for the prophets in the Bible. They were always sticking their necks out for the people by instructing them in the best way to live or defending them to God through prayer. And yet the people would reject them and continue to do wrong. It seems perseverance would have had to have been high on a prophet’s characteristic list! While their lives were challenging they continued to be the go-between for the people and God. So while my friend had a challenging time at work he was showing Godly character by being a prophet to his colleagues and his boss.
Prayer: Lord, it’s a tough gig to declare your will to the world. Help us to stay strong and not be put off by other people’s lack of change. Amen.
Which place has God placed you to be a prophet and show Godly character?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.